Say prost: It’s time for Oktoberfest!
Join the party downtown on Friday or DIY yours through the month at Radhaus. Other cheers-worthy events in the mix include an Alter Ego pop-up at Kaiyō, whiskey tastings at Luma Hotel and Redwood Room, and aperitivo hour at Delfina. Plus, celebrate the return of the San Francisco Greek Food Festival and Portola Music Festival.
Jump ahead to this week's top events:
Dust off your lederhosen for Oktoberfest on Front.
Be the change at the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.
Check out lowriders from around the country.
Make your way to the main stage at this year's Portola Music Festival.
Have a good one.
Move and groove with free dance classes. Former professional ballet dancer Jaime Diaz’s new digs, The Collective Studios, is hosting an open house week with a lineup of contemporary ballet, salsa, jazz, and fitness classes; through Thursday. // The Collective Studios, 1751 Fulton St. (NoPa); details at collectivestudiossf.com
Geek out at the San Francisco Science Fiction Short Film and TV Award showcase. Enjoy film and episode screenings and join panels and Q&As with the best locals in the genre; Monday, 12:30pm to 4:30pm. // Lost Marbles Brewery, 823 Clement St. (Inner Richmond); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Meet San Jose’s Alter Ego at a rooftop pop-up party centered on creative cocktails made in collaboration with Japanese-Peruvian fusion specialists at Kaiyō; Monday, 7pm to 11pm. // Kaiyō Rooftop, 701 3rd St., 12th Flr. (SoMa); details on Instagram
Discover the delights of raw oysters, herb-and-jalapeño-marinated mussels, and glasses of vinho verde at Bar Crudo’s legendary happy hour. Extend it late into the night when you join 7x7 Social Club; Mondays through Saturdays. // Bar Crudo, 655 Divisadero St. (NoPa); details at barcrudo.com
Join aperitivo hour at Delfina featuring small-batch California aperitifs from Veso and complimentary snacks from chef John; Tuesday, 5pm to 6pm. // Delfina Restaurant, 3621 18th St. (Mission); details here
Take a daytime dance break. Catch local performances then show off your own moves during a set from La Femme Papo at Dance Break; Wednesday, 12pm to 4pm. // Yerba Buena Ln. between Market St. and Mission St. (SoMa); RSVP at rawdance.salsalabs.org
Raise a glass to an intimate barrel release party. Join the Woodford Reserve team for guided tastings, a cocktail masterclass, and a first sip of Clift Woodford Double Oaked Barrel; Wednesday, 6pm to 8pm. // Redwood Room, 495 Geary St. (TenderNob); tickets at eventbrite.com
Send off summer with a golden hour party full of whiskey, chocolate, cocktails, bites, and more with Luma and Gold Bar Whiskey; Wednesday, 6:30pm to 8:30pm. // Luma Hotel San Francisco, 100 Channel St. (Mission Bay); tickets at eventbrite.com
Get in the spirit for this weekend’s Laver Cup. Catch Carlos Alcaraz and friends on the black court for an open practice day; then check out the fan events happening around Thrive City throughout the weekend; Thursday at 12pm. // Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way (Mission Bay); tickets at ticketmaster.com
Savor the experience at Redwood Empire Whiskey with a distillery tour and guided tasting of six whiskeys; Thursdays, 12pm to 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays, 12pm to 8pm and Sundays 12pm to 7pm. // Redwood Empire Whiskey Bar and Tasting Room, 1095 Nimitz Ave. (Vallejo); reservations at redwoodempirewhiskey.com
Thank you to your partners at Redwood Empire Whiskey.
Head to a salon for dynamic conversation and wine tasting with Bella Union’s artist in residence Harold Mendez; Thursday, 5:30pm to 7:30pm. // Bella Union Winery, 1695 St Helena Hwy. (St. Helena); reservations at farniente.com
Celebrate America’s musical spirit with Gershwin, Ellington, and Carlos Simon in a vibrant program led by James Gaffigan. From Harlem swing to symphonic jazz, experience the sounds that shaped our national voice; Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm. // Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets at sfsymphony.org
Thank you to our partners at the San Francisco Symphony.
Taste your way through San Jose’s Santana Row at its very first Restaurant Week. Dig into $50 pre-fixe, 3-course dinners from restaurants like Meso, Suspiro, Dumpling Time, and more; Friday through Sunday September 28th. // Details at santanarow.com
Dust off your lederhosen for Oktoberfest on Front. Enjoy more than 70 ice-cold beers on tap, German food specials, Stein holding competitions, live music and more at this free block party; Friday, 2pm to 10pm. // 240 Front St. (FiDi); details at downtownsf.org
Go all out on Peruvian and Japanese fusion at Fiesta Nikkei. Taste at six local chef stations, enjoy live performances, and have all the pisco sours your heart desires; Friday at 7pm. // La Mar Cocina Peruana, 1 1/2 Ferry Plaza (Embarcadero); tickets at eventbrite.com
Elevate your senses with an immersive wine tasting experience. Flight of Sounds pairs seasonal pours with a curated soundscape for an extrasensory vibe; weekdays, 12pm to 7pm through October 26th. // Carneros Resort and Spa, Post Tasting Room, 4048 Sonoma Hwy. (Napa); reservations at carnerosresort.com
Stuff yourself with spanakopita, moussaka, gyros, and plenty of cultural delights at the San Francisco Greek Food Festival; Friday and Saturday, 11am to 10pm and Sunday, 12pm to 7pm. // Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 245 Valencia St. (Mission); details on Instagram
Live the dream with tastings at Mi Sueño Winery. Started by husband-and-wife team Rolando and Lorena Herrera, their elegant, award-winning wines reflect their passion and dedication. Even dreamier: 7x7 Social Club members get two tastings for the price of one. // Mi Sueño Winery, 910 Enterprise Way (Napa); reservations at misuenowinery.com
Keep the festive fun going at Radhaus, who will be serving up imported German festbier and house-made bratwurst, käsespätzle, roast chicken, and massive pretzels; through October 5th. // Radhaus, Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, 2 Marina Blvd., Building A (Marina); details at fortmason.org
Swap clothes and gear at Secondhand Saturday. Upgrade your flea market experience and shop over 50 vintage vendors, makers, and artists, including specialty surf stuff; Saturday, 10am to 4pm. // 37th Ave. between Ortega St. and Quintara St. (Outer Sunset); details at sunsetmercantilesf.com
Be the change at the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Throw on some gloves, join a “trashure hunt” and help beautify a slice of SF with local businesses, community groups, and neighbors; Saturday, 10am to 12pm. // 800 Great Hwy (Ocean Beach); register at constantcontactpages.com
Check out lowriders from around the country as they roll through Mission Street for the Lowrider Parade, led by legendary cartoonist and artist David Gonzales ; Saturday at 1pm. // Mission St. between Cesar Chavez St. and 17th St. (Mission); details at sanfranciscolowridercouncil.com
Master meringue with a hands-on pavlova-making class where you’ll learn how to create, shape, and decorate this impressive dessert; Saturday, 2pm to 4pm. // Tickets and location details at thethirdplace.is
Make your way to the main stage to see LCD Soundsystem and Christina Aguilera at this year's Portola Music Festival; Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 11pm. // Pier 80 (Dogpatch); tickets at portolamusicfestival.com
Grab the gals for drag brunch with Hotel Zeppelin’s Downtown Divas. Enjoy live music, mimosas, and high-energy performances from guest hosts Galilea Avila and Emma Peel; Sunday at 12:30pm. // PLS on Post, 545 Post St. (TenderNob); reservations at opentable.com
Watch bartenders go head to head in a cocktail competition as part of the more than week-long Taste of City Center. Enjoy the entertainment of a comedian-mixologist host along with drinks and small bites of your own; Sunday, 5pm to 7pm. // Social-Affair, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Rd., Ste. 2502 (San Ramon); details at bishopranch.com
Be the judge as Bay Area chefs face off in a friendly competition of small bites and beverage pairings to support mental health treatment in Santa Clara County; Sunday, 3pm to 7pm. // The Glass House, 84 W Santa Clara St. #100 (San Jose); tickets at momentumforhealth.org
Werq it with RuPaul during his world tour. Walk the red carpet and meet queens bringing celebrities like Lady Gaga, Madonna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and more to life; October 2. // Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St. (Civic Center); tickets at ticketmaster.com
Thank you to our partners at Another Planet.
Get ready for the return of Oakland Style. Immerse yourself in the creative energy of The Town with art walks, fashion shows, interactive workshops, culinary celebrations, and more; October 8th through 12th. // Details at visitoakland.com
Thank you to our partners at Oakland Style.
