This story is brought to you by Poppy the AV, an all-electric self-driving Cruise vehicle, who knows the ins and outs of the City.
After being cheated out of a proper holiday season last year, winter celebrations are back with a vengeance—in the best way possible.
This week, get prepped for parties by learning how to pair cheese and charcuterie with the pros at The Cheese School, get down with Juanita More!, raise the roof (and some funds) at Glide's annual Holiday Jam, go ice skating in Napa and, for goodness sake, get tickets to the reopening of Soundbox before they sell out.
See you out there.
Hurry up if you hope to get tix to SF Symphony's SoundBox! The experimental late-night live music series returns for its eighth season this December. Each performance is unique—with shifting stage settings, art installations, projection screens, and unexpected elements. Tickets will sell out so get after it; SoundBox kicks off with "Embarkation," December 17-18; tickets at sfsoundbox.com.
A European-style winter wonderland brings holiday magic to Napa. The luxe Meritage Resort and Spa has opened its seasonal ice rink with rink-side fire pits by reservation, Veuve Clicquot igloo experiences, visits with Santa, an artisan market, and so much more (like snow!); open daily through January 2nd. // The Meritage Resort and Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way (Napa), meritagecollection.com.
If you find yourself with time to spare, Queer Bowling Club might be right up your alley. For a $10 charity donation, you can enjoy a night of small bites, drink specials, and bowling with SF's queer community; Monday, 6pm to 9pm. // Mission Bowling Club, 3176 17th St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com
While we love the cheese aisle of Trader Joe's as much as the next person, it's time to step your cheeseboard game up. Let the pros at The Cheese School guide you through artisan cheese and charcuterie pairings with a wine tasting to cleanse your pallet; Wednesday at 6pm. // The Cheese School, 900 North Point St. (Fisherman's Wharf); tickets at thecheeseschool.com
Take a mid-week screen break with a watercolor plant journaling workshop. This virtual class will guide you through the process of documenting the health and growth of your house plants by using the art of watercolors; Wednesday from 1:45pm to 3:30pm. // Virtual; details at caseformakingfriends.com
$10 craft cocktails and trivia at Foreign Cinema's Mission Street DJ bar…'nuff said; Wednesdays, 7pm to 8:30pm. // Laszlo, 2526 Mission St. (Mission); details at eventbrite.com
Feel the electric vibes of Bourbon Street at Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 60th anniversary tour. The iconic New Orleans jazz band takes over SFJAZZ Center for four nights; Thursday through Sunday. // SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin St. (Hayes Valley); tickets at sfjazz.org
Don't say it… don't say it… don't say it… it's lit (sorry) at the opening night of Glow at the Exploratorium. On display throughout the interactive museum will be 10 sculptures both large and small to play with and admire. Plus, special performances; Thursday at 6pm. // Exploratorium, Pier 15 (Embarcadero); tickets at exploratorium.edu
Party for a good cause at Glide's annual Holiday Jam. This year's fundraiser is hosted by Alicia Garza and Guy Johnson and will feature performances from Bobby McFerrin and Fantastic Negrito; Thursday at 5:30pm. // The Masonic, 1111 California St. (Nob Hill); tickets at app.mobilecause.com
Only in San Francisco can you go to a silent-disco-meditation-dance-party in a church. With your headphones on you'll dance under Grace Cathedral's iconic stained glass windows to beats from live DJs; Friday, 6pm to 9:30pm. // Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St. (Nob Hill); tickets at e.sparxo.com
Join Juanita More and friends for a party at one of the Bay Area's best gay bars; Friday, 9pm to 2am. // Lookout, 3600 16th St. (Upper Market); details on facebook.com
It's not every day you get to hear Les Claypool jam out in his own hometown. The Primus founder-turned-excellent-winemaker will be debuting his fall wines at Hopmonk Tavern for Claypool Cellars' 12th Annual Pre-Turkey Day Pachyderm Bonanza; Saturday at 9pm (doors open at 6pm). // Garden tickets with live audio and video are available at wl.seetickets.us; Hopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave. (Sebastopol), hopmonk.com.
Experience the best of Napa's upper valley at the Calistoga Food & Wine Festival. You'll taste your way through wines from nearly 40 wineries on the gorgeous Solage property without having to worry about making it to your next tasting on time...or who's driving. Bliss! Saturday, 1pm to 4:30pm. // Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection, 755 Silverado Trail North (Calistoga); tickets at eventbrite.com
Embrace the fog and head to the Sunset for Artscape. Local artists, food vendors, and musicians gather every third Saturday of the month for this community event; Saturday, 11am to 5pm. // Sunset Mercantile, 37th Avenue at Ortega/Pacheco (Sunset); details at eventbrite.com
California College of the Arts celebrates 100 years in Oakland with a holiday arts and craft fair. In addition to shopping handmade goods, see student showcases in ceramics, jewelry, and metal arts, a printmaking workshop, as well as live music and food trucks; Saturday, 11am to 5pm. // California College of the Art's Oakland Campus, 5212 Broadway (Oakland); details at eventbrite.com
Make a traditional Filipino Christmas lantern to mark the start of the holiday season. Typically made of colorful paper, string and bamboo, these star-shaped parols represent hope of a bright future and the new year—which we could all use; Saturday, noon to 5pm. // District Six, 428 11th St. (SoMa); details at eventbrite.com.
Rhonda is reclaiming her crown as the Queen of nightlife—that's right, A Club Called Rhonda is back. L.A.'s iconic pansexual dance party comes to SF for a night of glitter, tinsel, and neon; Saturday, 9:30pm to 4am. // The Great Northern, 119 Utah St (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com
Can you keep a secret? You'll need to for this secret comedy show. Secret location, secret comedians—oh, and it's BYOB; Saturday at 8 pm. // Undisclosed location (Presidio); tickets at donttellcomedy.com
Ditch the Target holiday decor for something homemade this year. Sonoma Valley Museum of Art's Holiday Make-in invites families to come create crafts and presents that grandma and grandpa are sure to treasure; Saturday, 10am to 4pm. // Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, 551 Broadway St. (Sonoma), svma.org
Rid yourself of the Sunday scaries with yoga at Almanac Brewing Co. This all-levels class will be held in Almanac's beer garden on Alameda's Spirit's Alley and, of course, comes with a post-class beer; Sunday at 10am. // Almanac Beer Co.; 651 West Tower Ave. (Alameda); tickets at eventbrite.com
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