From sound baths and author talks to all-out raging parties and music festivals, this week is teeming with can't-miss happenings.
Don't miss the opening Les Mis at the Orpheum, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at Davies Symphony Hall, a free performance from Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and a chance to score all your wardrobe needs for Burning Man.
Have a great week!
Monday, August 6th
Michael Pollan's new book is a trip—hear all about it at Scribd on Monday night.
(Jeannette Montgomery Barron)
John Oates in Song and Conversation
When: 6pm to 9pm
Where: Haight Street Art Center, 215 Haight St. (Lower Haight), haightstreetart.org
Why: Spend Monday evening in a happy hour perusing the work of San Francisco concert poster artist Lee Conklin, and then head upstairs at 7pm to see the permanent Grateful Dead exhibit before a performance and Q&A with John Oates. // Tickets ($8) are available at eventbrite.com.
A Night With Michael Pollan
When: 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Where: Scribd HQ, 333 Bush St. Suite 2400 (FiDi), scribd.com
Why: New York Times bestselling author Michael Pollan (Cooked, The Omnivore's Dilemma, etc) will sit down with Wired writer Matt Simon for a conversation about his newest book, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. It's a mouthful, but an intriguing investigation into the scientific and medical revolution around psychedelics. It's also part memoir as Pollan divulges his own life-changing experiences. The first 60 Scribd subscribers will receive a free copy of the book. // RSVP at eventbrite.com.
When: 6pm to 9pm
Where: Ale Industries Taproom, 3096 E 10th St. (Oakland), aleindustries.com
Why: Drink and draw, trade stickers, and share sketchbooks with other creatives while taking advantage of happy hour prices on pints of craft beer. // For more details, go to facebook.com.
Envelop Sound Bath
When: 8pm to 9:30pm
Where: Envelop SF, 900 Marin St. (Bayview), envelop.us
Why: Bring a blanket and fall into deep relaxation while immersed in a 32-speaker sphere of sound. // Tickets ($30) are available at eventbrite.com.
Radhaus Brings Bavarian Beers to Fort Mason
When: 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: Radhaus, Landmark Building A (Fort Mason), radhaussf.com
Why: The folks behind Hayes Valley favorites Biergarten and Suppenkuche are teaming up for what seems like the most natural partnership ever: a Bavarian beer-focused restaurant also serving smoked fish sandwiches with kraut, schnitzel, sausages, and charcuterie from San Francisco Chronicle rising star Chef Timmy Malloy. It opens today!
Tuesday, August 7th
Free Classical Concert
When: 6pm to 9pm
Where: Oakland Public Library, 125 14th St. (Oakland), oaklandlibrary.org
Why: Enjoy a the sounds of Awesöme Orchestra Collective under the stars Oakland library for National Night Out. Their sessions are part performance, part open rehearsal—sheet music is provided and anyone is welcome to join in and play. // For more information, go to facebook.com.
First Museum Day
When: All Day
Where: Various museums city-wide
Why: It's First Tuesday! That means admission is free at the de Young, Legion of Honor, California Historical Society, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, YBCA, and the Cartoon Art Museum.
Turning a Lens on Poverty
When: 6:30pm to 8pm
Where: World Affairs, 312 Sutter St. Ste 200 (Union Square), worldaffairs.org
Why: A powerful series of photos and profiles by Pulitzer Prize–winning photo-journalist Renée C. Byer takes over World Affairs in an exhibit entitled Living on a Dollar A Day: The Lives and Faces of the World's Poor. Byer highlights extreme poverty across 10 countries on four continents, capturing people who live on about one U.S. dollar per day. The touring exhibit is part of an international movement to to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030. // Tickets ($10) are available at worldaffairs.org.
Versus Tuesdays' Free Hip Hop & RnB Party
When: 10pm to 2am
Where: F8, 1192 Folsom St. (SoMa), feightsf.com
Why: Every first and third Tuesday, rotating DJs take over F8 Nightclub to spin hip hop from classics to underground bangers. Sip on $2 beers and $5 Champagne. // For event details and free tickets, go to eventbrite.com.
Weezer and The Pixies!
When: 7:30pm
Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy (Mountain View)
Why: Take a walk down nostalgia lane with tunes from Weezer and The Pixies. You'l also hear tracks from the bands' latest albums, Pacific Daydream (Weezer, 2107), and Head Carrier (The Pixies, 2016). // Tickets ($25-$60) are available at facebook.com.
Heart of The Mission Community Discussion
When: 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Where: Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, commonwealthclub.org
Why: Join La Cocina executive director Caleb Zigas, Foreign Cinema's Gayle Pirie and John Clark, and commissioner of the San Francisco Office of Small Business William Ortiz-Cartagena for a conversation on the past, present, and future of The Mission. They'll talk about food culture, small business, and more in the ever-changing neighborhood. // Tickets ($10-$75) are available at eventbrite.com.
National Night Out
When: Afternoon-Evening
Where: Multiple locations
Why: The San Francisco Police Department is sponsoring a slew of community gatherings across the city to promote neighborhood camaraderie. // See the full list of events at sanfranciscopolice.org.
Wednesday, August 8th
That cast of Les Miserables performing "One Day More"—see it at the Orpheum, opening tonight.
(Matthew Murphy)
Lucid Dreaming Workshop
When: 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: Location will be in central SF and released prior to the event
Why: Explore lucid dreaming in a workshop with Evan Stites Clayton, who has ten years of experience, and is also co-founder of TeeSpring and founder of Dreamlabs Technologies. Learn how to remember more dreams, train yourself to realize when you're dreaming, practices and supplements for lucid dream induction, how to extend a dream, and tech on the frontiers of lucid dreaming. You'll leave ready to lucid dream that night, along with a testedsupplement to aid you. // Tickets ($15-$20) are available at eventbrite.com, facebook.com
Les Misérables
When: Aug. 8-25
Where: SHN Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St. (Civic Center), shnsf.com
Why: Catch up with Jean Valjean in 19th Century France at the Tony Award-winning musical (and, admit it, all-time favorite) Les Misérables, with all0new staging and reimagined scenery. // Tickets ($56-$226) are available at shnsf.com
Taste the New Menu at Stones Throw
When: 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Where: Stones Throw, 1896 Hyde St (Nob Hill), stonesthrowsf.com
Why: Former Rising Star Chef Robin Song (Hog & Rocks, Gibson) is now chef de cuisine at Stones Throw. Go sample his new menu, including heirloom melon and cucumber salad with burrata, seared American wagyu with summer bean and tomato salad, and squid ink conchiglie pasta.
Thursday, August 9th
Ballet in the Park
When: 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Where: Yerba Buena Gardens (Esplanade), 773 Mission St. (SoMa), ybgfestival.org
Why: As part of the ongoing Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, today you can while alway the lunch hour with Alonzo King Lines Ballet—the company is taking the stage for a free performance.
Gott's New Summer Menu
When: 10am to 10pm
Where: Gott's locations Bay Area–wide, gotts.com
Why: The all-American Gott's Roadside restaurant is launching a new summer menu with fresh offerings such as an heirloom tomato mozzarella sandwich, heirloom tomato BLT with Zoe's bacon, raspberry lemon freeze and, wait for it, $7 glasses of rosé.
Friday, August 10th
Outside Lands begins.
(Courtesy of Josh Withers Photography via Outside Lands)
Harry Potter in Concert
When: Aug. 10-12
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Hayes Valley)
Why: The wildly popular symphonic rendering of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets returns for added shows. Take your kiddos, or indulge in a playful adults-only night out. // Tickets ($77-$154) are available at shnsf.com; for more information, go to harrypotterinconcert.com.
Block Party at OMCA
When: 5pm to 9pm
Where: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. (Oakland), museumca.org
Why: In partnership with Hip Hop for Change, OMCA is throwing a block party with DJs and grub from Off the Grid to celebrate the 45th anniversary of hip hop. It's also the last weekend of the popular exhibit Respect: Hip Hop Style & Wisdom. // For more details, go to facebook.com.
Aerial Arts Festival
When: Aug. 10-12
Where: Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina), fortmason.org
Why: Zaccho Dance Theatre brings the biennial SF Aerial Arts Festival to the waterfront with three days of performances, panels, and workshops with artists from around theworld. // Tickets ($25-$35) are available at fortmason.org; zaccho.org.
Outside Lands
When: Aug. 10-12; doors open at 11am
Where: Golden Gate Park, sfoutsidelands.com
Why: The beloved music fest returns to GGP this weekend with headliners including The Weeknd, Florence + The Machine, and Janet Jackson—and, of course, a stellar food lineup including Nepalese dumplings and burritos from Bini's Kitchen, Rich Table's porcini doughnuts, and fried chicken sandos from Sorrel. Don't miss this year's addition of a cannabis-themed tent, Green Lands. There are still three-day and single-day passes available. // Tickets ($150-$795) are available at sfoutsidelands.com/passes.
Un-Official OSL After-Party
When: 10pm to 3am
Where: 1015 Folsom, 1015 Folsom St. (SoMa), 1015.com
Why: Not ready for the party to end? Keep it going with Tokimonsta. // Tickets ($20-$30) are available at eventbrite.com.
Saturday, August 11th
Grab the gang, the kids, and the pups for the Laurel Street Fair today.
(Courtesy of Laurel District Association)
Bernal Hillwide Garage Sale
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: Cortland Ave. (Bernal Heights)
Why: This could very well be the largest garage sale in the city, with 150+ homes participating. Take a wad of cash and look for serious scores, all to benefit the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center. // hillwide.com
When: 12pm to 6pm
Where: The Great Northern, 119 Utah St. (Mission)
Why: Prepare for the Playa and shop Burning Man costumes at the 12th annual Beyond the Fence trunk show. There will be goods from more than 30 local, independent designers. // For more details, go to facebook.com.
Laurel Street Fair
When: 11am to 7pm
Where: MacArthur Blvd. and Brown St. (Oakland)
Why: Head to the 19th annual Laurel Street Fair for live music, DJs, artisan vendors, a petting zoo, food trucks, and local chefs. // streetfair.laureldistrictassociation.org
Filipino Cultural Festival and Parade
When: 11am to 5pm, Aug. 11-12
Where: Fulton St. and Larkin St. (Civic Center)
Why: Celebrate Filipino dance, art, music, and food at the 25th Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival. // pistahan.net
Sunday, August 12th
See the Perseids meteor shower.
(Jeffrey Sullivan, courtesy of baynature.org)
The KWMR Block Party
When: 1pm to 5pm
Where: Love Field, 11191 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. (Point Reyes Station)
Why: Fans of the Renee & Irish Greg's Pop Up podcast won't want to miss this free summer block party with live music, barbecue, ice cream, and more. // For more event details, go to facebook.com.
Outdoor Cinema
When: 4pm
Where: Berkeley Art Museum / Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA), 2155 Center St. (Berkeley), bampfa.org/event/step
Why: As part of BAM/PFA's outdoor summer movie series Dancing in the Streets, watch Amanda Lipitz's documentary Step, which follows the step team at a Baltimore inner city charter school that helps underserved girls prepare for college.
Perseids Meteor Shower Watch Party
When: 11pm to 3am
Where: Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd. (Oakland), chabotspace.org
Why: Enjoy a hot chocolate on Chabot's new observation deck and watch the Perseids Meteor Shower light up the sky. Astronomers will be on hand to answer questions. // Tickets ($8) are available at chabotspace.org.
