It's a jam-packed week of festivals and parties.
Check out a free jazz concert, Flour + Water's ninth anniversary celebration, the Great Rosé and Silent Disco Festival, and more. Have a good one!
Monday, May 14: Free Concert at SF Jazz
When: 7:30pm
Where: SF Jazz Center, 201 Franklin St. (Hayes Valley), sfjazz.org
Why: Start the week off right at a free community concert at SF Jazz. Take in jazz, world music, and original compositions by musical director Adam Theis and ensemble members. // Tickets (free) are available at sfjazz.org.
Tuesday, May 15: Walking Distance Dance Festival
When: 8pm to 9pm
Where: ODC Theater, 3153 17th St. (Mission), odc.dance
Why: Head to the first night of the Walking Distance Dance Festival at ODC to be swept away by an eclectic series of performances from a Euripides-inspired Latin disco-pop variety show to free improvisers and solo acts. // Tickets ($15 per performance or $60 for four shows) are available at odc.dance/wddf.
Tuesday, May 15: Drinks + Unlimited Pizza and Snacks
When: 10pm to midnight
Where: Flour + Water, 2401 Harrison St. (Mission), flourandwater.com
Why: The restaurant is turning nine and throwing a party to celebrate. Tickets include two drinks, unlimited pizza and snacks; all proceeds will benefit the neighboring John O'Connell High School's Culinary Program. Beer and wine will be flowing and there will be live music. // Tickets ($28) are available at brownpapertickets.com.
Wednesday, May 16: Free Laughter Yoga
When: 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Where: UCSF Osher Center, 1545 Divisadero St. (Pacific Heights), osher.ucsf.edu
Why: Get in some midweek R&R with deep breathing, stretching, clapping, and laughter exercises that are great for reducing stress, stimulating immunity, enhancing endorphins, and increasing blood flow and oxygen. Giggle your way to a happier you.
Wednesday, May 16: The New Nico
When: 11:45am to 2pm; 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: 710 Montgomery St. (FiDi), nicosf.com
Why: After a six-month hiatus, the critically acclaimed restaurant Nico has reopened in Jackson Square. The menu combines modern French cuisine and fine dining tradition. Expect clean, seasonal, market-driven ingredients in Californian fare. There'll be a two- and three-course menu for lunch, as well as a four- and six-course option for dinner. There will also be cocktails and bar snacks such as oysters and wild mushroom waffles.
Thursday, May 17: Presidio Twilight Opening Night
When: 5pm to 9pm
Where: Main Post Lawn, 103 Montgomery St., Main Post (Presidio)
Why: Grab a blanket and snuggle up to the fire pits on the lawn for live music under the stars and delicious international eats such as lobster rolls from Cousins Maine Lobster, Neapolitan pizzas from Mozzeria, and handmade small-batch doughnuts from Johnny Doughnuts. // facebook.com
Friday, May 18: Laser Spectacular With Pink Floyd
When: 8pm
Where: Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado (Downtown Monterey)
Why: Feast your eyes on cutting edge, full-color lasers, hi-def multi screen video projections, and let your ears revel in concert quality sounds of Pink Floyd. Put on your specially designed prism glasses and lose yourself in this magical production. // Tickets ($22-$43) are available at goldenstatetheatre.showare.com.
Friday, May 18: Retro-Inspired Black Light Art Party
When: 8pm to 1am
Where: 111 Minna, 111 Minna St. (SoMa), 111minnagallery.com
Why: Relive the psychedelic black light art scene of the '60s and '70s with a modern flair at Art in a Different Light. Hosted by the de Young Museum College Night, and Nexus ArtReach, the party will have live performances, a face painting contest, raffles, and DJs J Medina and Subdivision (LA). Dumpster Dive will be popping up with vegan comfort food. The event is free but with a $10 suggested donation.
Friday, May 18-20: Maker Faire Bay Area
When: Multiple times
Where: San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Dr. (San Mateo), smcec.co
Why: The 13th annual flagship maker event is back with over 1,200 curated projects spanning music, art, science, health, robotics and more. Check out Prosthesis, a 14' tall, human-piloted exoskeleton or Andy Tibbets' Clock Ship Tere, a pirate ship with a steel mast that reaches 33' into the air, and spews sails of fire. // Tickets ($25-$3,000) are available at makerfaire.com.
Saturday, May 19: Laurel Maker's Market
When: 12:30pm to 4pm
Where: Communitē Table, 4171 MacArthur Blvd. (Oakland), communite-table.com
Why: Meet and shop 25-30 local artisans and curators while listening to sweet tunes from their resident DJ and noshing on mouthwatering eats from Communitē Table's seasonal kitchen. There will also be a free raffle every 30 minutes for a gift card that can be used at any of the booths. //laurelmakersmarket.com
Saturday, May 19-20: Nosh at the Greek Festival
When: 10am to 11pm
Where: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Ave. (Oakland), ascensioncathedral.com
Why: Escape to Greece this weekend at the annual festival in the Oakland hills. Gorge on juicy, warm lamb sandwiches, Glyko pastries, shop the marketplace, and dance the night away to traditional Greek music. // oaklandgreekfestival.com
Saturday, May 19: The Great Rosé & Silent Disco Festival
When: 1pm to 6pm
Where: Fort Mason, Shafter Pl. (Marina)
Why: Sip rosé from around the world and indulge in tropical fare from Palm House at the city's largest outdoor silent disco music festival. There will also be lawn games like 'rosé pong' on the lawn and music from DJ Lord Quinton, Guiseppi and DJ Dials. Don't miss the Dorian SF's frosé. // Tickets ($20-$60) are available at eventbrite.com.
Saturday, May 19: Art and Wine Festival
When: 12pm to 5pm
Where: Jack London Square, Broadway at Embarcadero W (Oakland)
Why: The weekend calls for wine. Head to the heart of the urban wine trail in Oakland to sip on over 40 NorCal vino offerings as well as cider, craft beer, live music, artists, eats, and more. There's also a VIP reception Friday May 18th at Dyafa, the latest venture from Chef Reem Assil and Daniel Patterson. // Tickets ($45-$100) are available at eventbrite.com, facebook.com.
Saturday, May 19: Pizzapedia with Dan Bransfield
When: 3pm to 4pm
Where: Omnivore Books, 3885 Cesar Chavez St. (Noe Valley), omnivorebooks.com
Why: Come learn all about the delicious history of pizza with author and illustrator Dan Bransfield. From Neopolitan to New York styles, his new book, Pizzapedia, covers it all. Of course there will also be some pie to nosh on while you learning all about what goes into your slice.
Saturday, May 19: Hip Hop Party and Fundraiser
When: 9pm to 12am
Where: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. (Oakland), museumca.org
Why: OMCA introduces Ziggurat Late Night, their big fundraising event with a party. Following the formal dinner and auction, the bash will begin with craft cocktails, bites, and live music from Oakland's own Hieroglyphics. Their current exhibit Respect: Hip Hop Style & Wisdomwill be incorporated into the event. // Tickets ($85 with a tax-deductible contribution of $65 per ticket) are available at eventbrite.com.
Sunday, May 20: 107th Bay to Breakers
When: 8am to 12:30pm
Where: Howard St. and Main St. (Embarcadero)
Why: Ready your costume—the oldest consecutively-run annual footrace is back. Run with your best buds, or just sit back and watch over 30,000 semi-naked, people in multi-hued attire canter past. // Register ($69.99 to race) at baytobreakers.com.
