On Friday, ice skate through downtown SF's enchanted light forest with Urban Diversion.
18 Fun Things: Ice Skating, Disco Dumplings, a Secret Concert + More Bay Area Events
30 December 2018
Roll into 2019 with disco roller derby at Church of 8 Wheels, or glide into the year on ice skates in Downtown SF's enchanted forest.
Plus, taste your way through Forage Kitchen, see the best of Sundance's short films, hit up an all-day dance party, learn Qi Gong, and more.
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 31st
Party like it's 2019
Peep our list of 31 excellent New Year's Eve events—think epic meals, concerts, theater, fireworks, comedy, and all the Champagne.
Tuesday, January 1st
Disco Dumpling New Year's Brunch
When: Noon to 5pm
Where: Bon Voyage, 584 Valencia St. (Mission), bonvoyagebar.com
Dumplings! Disco! Bubbles! Bao! Start the new year with sparkle.
Polar Bear Skate
When: 2pm to 2:30pm
Where: Union Square, 333 Post St., visitunionsquaresf.com
Maybe you've tried a polar bear plunge into icy cold waters, but have you ever ice skated in your swimsuit? Grab your cutest one-piece and head to the Union Square ice rink to glide into the New Year. Prizes are at stake for most original suit. // Tickets ($13 and up) are available on eventbrite.com.
All-Day Dance Party
When: 4am to 8pm
Where: The Midway, 900 Marin St. (Dogpatch), themidwaysf.com
Keep last night's party going with a daytime DJ dance-a-thon featuring Get Real (Green Velvet & Claude VonStroke), A-Trak, CamelPhat and Justin Martin. Food, juices, smoothies, art, and interactive performers will be on hand to keep your energy up. // Tickets ($50 and up) are available on eventbrite.com.
Wednesday, January 2nd
ABC7 and CBS5 Blood Drive
When: 10am to 2pm
Where: Grumpy's Restaurant & Pub, 125 Vallejo St. (Embarcadero)
Resolved to give back this year? Today you can start by giving blood. // Make an appointment at bloodheroes.com.
Rolligian
When: 7pm
Where: Church of 8 Wheels, 554 Fillmore St. (Lower Haight), churchof8wheels.com
Roll into 2019 to a soundtrack of disco beats. // Tickets to be announced at bandsintown.com.
Shen Yun
When: Matinee and evening shows through Jan. 6
Where: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave (Civic Center)
There are only a few days left to catch the annual spectacular that is Shen Yun. You'll be transported to ancient China through classical dance, a live orchestra, incredible costumes, dramatic backdrops, and more. // For more information and to buy tickets, go to shenyun.com.
Thursday, January 3rd
Shalom Bollywood: The Untold Story of Indian Cinema shows at the CJM tonight.
Castro Art Walk
When: 6 to 9pm
Where: Art Attack, 2358 Market St., Suite 1 (Upper Market), artattacksf.com
See art at neighborhood venues ranging from Dog Eared Books to the Apothecarium, plus peruse and purchase limited edition prints and pottery by more than 20 Bay Area artists. // Event is free; for more information, go to eventbrite.com; castroartwalk.com.
Shalom Bollywood: The Untold Story of Indian Cinema
When: 6:30 to 8pm
Where: Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St. (SoMa), thecjm.org
Did you know the Indian Jewish community has had a major influence on the country's Bollywood film industry? Learn all about it in this 2017 Australian film by director Danny Ben-Moshe. // Tickets ($8) are available at 5990a.blackbaudhosting.com.
Friday, January 4th
Ice Cream Donuts
When: 5pm to 9pm
Where: I Scream Donuts, Telegraph Ave (Oakland)
There's a new donut in town. Check out I Scream Donuts' grand opening party during First Friday and indulge in their sweet, organic, donut ice cream sandwiches. // Free to attend, more info on Facebook.
BatchMade Market
When: 6pm to 10pm
Where: Forage Kitchen, 478 25th St. (Oakland), foragekitchen.com
Taste what's cooking at the Oakland incubator kitchen as a variety of chefs turn out to sample dishes including Vietnamese fried spring rolls, blackberry-thyme chicken and waffles, and more. // Free to attend; RSVP on Eventbrite for $1 off beer, eventbrite.com.
2018 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour
When: 7pm; through Jan. 6
Where: The Roxie, 3117 16th St. (Mission)
See the very best short films that debuted at Sundance this year. // Tickets ($13) are available at roxie.com.
Ice Skating in the Enchanted Light Forest
When: 7:45pm to 10pm
Where: Downtown SF
Join Urban Diversion for a night of ice skating beneath the stars and twinkle-lit trees downtown. There will be hot chocolates and plenty shining photo ops. // Tickets are available to Urban Diversion members; memberships and tickets are available at urbandiversion.com.
Drunk Theater
When: 10pm to 11:30pm
Where: PianoFight, 144 Taylor St. (Union Square) pianofight.com
Nothing beats a good improv performance—except maybe a good, drunk improv performance. Watch one comedian take five whiskey shots and proceed to put on a show with five sober counterparts. This could get interesting. // Tickets ($20 and) are available on eventbrite.com.
Saturday, January 5th
Intro to Qi Gong
When: 1pm to 2:30pm
Where: Glow Yoga, Barre, Spinning & Spa, 1548 Stockton St. (North Beach), glowyogasf.com
How many times have you resolved to take up a new hobby, get in better shape, or meditate more? Join Qi Gong master Eli Cohen for a 90-minute sesh that will teach you how to repel negative energy, increase your energy level, and prepare your body for healing. // Tickets ($30) are available at eventbrite.com.
A Wine Bar From Sommeliers
When: Open daily
Where: Ungrafted, 2419 3rd Street (Dogpatch), ungraftedsf.com
A pair of married sommeliers have opened up a new wine bar staffed by six more sommeliers. In other words, when you ask for a recommendation, you know the knowledge will be stacked. Stop by for a drink or two, and bites like fried chicken, ribs, salmon, ceviche, and caviar.
New Brews in North Beach
When: Open daily
Where: HolyCraft Brewery Taproom, 787 Broadway (North Beach), holycraftbrewery.com
Bay Area brewery HolyCraft has finally opened its own taproom. Black walls, leather booths, octagonal wood tables, and an array of artsy murals set the scene.
Sunday, January 6th
(Courtesy of @sofarsoundssf)
Wonder Women of SF Walking Tour
When: 10am to 1pm
Where: Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F Kennedy Dr. (Golden Gate Park)
Get acquainted with women artists, pioneers, revolutionaries, politicians, entertainers, and more with this walking tour series. Don your Allbirds for a mostly flat two-mile trip through Golden Gate Park, beginning at the Conservatory. // Event is free to attend, but tickets are required; register at eventbrite.com.
Sofar Sounds January Concert
When: 7pm to 11pm
Where: Syzygy, 132 Turk St, (Tenderloin)
Been dying to check out one of those secret concerts you keep hearing about? Usually you have to apply on their website to potentially get a ticket, but Syzygy has an insider hookup. Go to sofarsounds.com and use the code JANUARYGA-24A8F to get your (necessary) ticket.
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