Need a dose of holiday cheer? Order a multi-course Christmas meal from a local restaurant, then cozy up on the couch for San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus' 30th annual holiday concert (online, of course).
Plus, take a moment to meditate, snap festive IGs with holiday-decorated cable cars, LOL during the annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy show, and watch dances by a variety of choreographers in the Silicon Valley Dance Festival. Have a relaxing, safe holiday week!
Carb up courtesy of Original Joe's new West Portal joint, Little Original Joe's. Specialty pies are loaded with the likes of barbecue rotisserie chicken or fried eggplant, fettuccine alfredo, wings, and parmigiana. Meanwhile, the market section is filled with frozen ravioli, sauces, and pantry goods; 10am to 10pm daily. // Pick up instructions and details on Instagram.
Look up on Monday night to catch the Jupiter and Saturn "conjunction" which happens just once every 20 years. Jupiter and Saturn will become closer than they've ever been in 800 years—so close that you'll be able to view them through the same telescope field of view; virtual viewing with Chabot Space and Science Center, Monday at 5pm. // chabotspace.org.
Watch Wonderfest's "Madame Curie," an inspiring stage tribute to the accomplished female scientist and Nobel Prize winner performed by eleven actors; Monday at 7:30pm. // Stream for free on wonderfest.org.
Celebrate Winter Solstice with a special live steam meditation and yoga practice. Led by Dana Damara, this virtual class will include chanting, prayer, movement, and ritual; Monday from 5:30 to 7pm. // Tickets ($18-$27 donation) are available on Eventbrite.
Destress by participating in 12 Days of Chorus. If you tune into 12 consecutive days of live or on-demand mindfulness classes, you'll receive a free month of Chorus, start by Thursday. // Details on Instagram
Virtually purchase donations for St. Anthony's annual Holiday Curbside donation drive. Shop for most-needed items for guests directly from St. Anthony's—think turkey, socks, and rain gear, through Friday. // stanthonysf.org
Chat about holiday plants during Cal's Academy Breakfast Club. Curator Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum will talk about why certain plants are part of Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah celebrations; Tuesday at 10am. // calacademy.org
Netflix and chill to the new holiday flick, "A California Christmas." Filmed in Petaluma and currently ranked #1 in the U.S. on the streaming platform, the cheesy holiday romance has everything wrong with it from a local's POV, according to the Chronicle's Beth Spotswood. Pour a cocktail and pick it apart.
Snap a pic of SF's historic cable cars while they're dressed up for the holidays. Rides are off limits, but the iconic cars will be parked at Powell & Market every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday through the end of the year; 10am to 3pm. // Find details on Facebook.
Need a last-minute, from-the-heart gift idea that doubles as a quarantine activity? Order one of Terra Mia's pottery painting to-go kits. Jazz up some planters, animal figurines, or kitchen items with included brushes and glazes, then drop off your painted items for firing. // Purchase kits ($115) on terramiaceramicstudio.com.
If you're already sheltering in place in South Lake Tahoe, hop in your car to explore the Holiday Light Trail Map. The interactive map features nearly 50 merry stops at local businesses and homes. After snapping pics of the displays, vote on your favorites for awards including the The People's Choice and Neighbor that Sleigh'd Awards. // Click over the the Google map, then vote.
Order fresh Californian takeout from Alameda's new Alley & Vine. Dishes include mushroom risotto and braised short ribs and cocktails for two; open daily. // alleyandvine.com
Order Tartine's decadent Bûche de Noël. Only available one day a year, this almost too-pretty-to-eat dessert features a coffee-soaked biscuit cake with whipped caramel ganache, chocolate mousse, and chocolate glaze—plus pistachio-matcha moss and white chocolate mushrooms; available for pickup on Thursday. // Purchase ($75) on bbot.menu
Gather around the screen for San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus' "(At) Home for the Holidays." Sing along to this beloved showcase—and expect performances by the SFGMC Ensemble Homophonics and Lollipop Guild, Bianca Del Rio, Laura Benanti, and more; Thursday at 5pm. // Tickets ($25/individual or $60/household) on sfgmc.org.
Take a pass on cooking this Christmas and order a special takeout meal from a local restaurant. Decadent dishes like Maine lobster stuffed with chili and garlic butter, prime rib, and Colombian pasteles de arroz await. // 7x7.com
Support your fave local Oakland businesses by purchasing surprise bag gift cards. When you spend $50, you'll get $60 worth of gift cards (and a Keep It Oakland holiday card) valid at a selection of six businesses in KONO, Jack London, or Temescal. // Purchase at oaklandindiealliance.com
Stream the 28th Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy show. Although cracking up in an actual Chinese restaurant is clearly off the table this year, you can still enjoy Jewish comedy virtually this week with Judy Gold, Alex Edelman, and Lisa Geduldig; Thursday and Friday at 5pm and Saturday at 2pm. // Tickets ($25-$50) on cityboxoffice.com
Purchase Flowerhead Tea's new chai kit, then cozy up on the couch with a mug or two of the spicy, intoxicating beverage. Follow the instructions and add milk of your choice, fresh ginger, and sugar. // $23, flowerheadtea.com
Watch the West Coast premiere of Blanche Comme Neige("Pure As Snow"). The French film tells the story of Claire, whose evil stepmother's lover falls in love with her. Be sure to pick up Anaba Wines' Food and Wine Lovers Trio, featuring Landa Vineyard Viognier, WestLands Pinot Noir, and Red Aero Port to go with; Saturday from 6pm to 8pm. // Stream ($10) on eventive.org; purchase wine pairing ($151) on anabawines.com.
Pick up gluten-free and non-GMO-corn tamales at the newly opened La Guerrera's Kitchen. Mother-daughter team Ofelia Barajas and Reyna Maldonado's new Oakland outpost offers vegan and meat variety boxes filled with chicken in salsa verde, calabacitas, and brown sugar cane and raisins; special celebration boxes feature pozole, tacos, tamales, and other favorites. // Order on la-guerreras-kitchen.square.site.
View the virtual Silicon Valley Dance Festival. Featuring seven main stage choreographers plus seven choreographers from around the world, "Renewal" uses dance to help dispel ideas of xenophobia and feelings of isolation developed during the pandemic; stream through January 3rd. // Stream ($15-$40) on zirudance.com.
Keep your eye out for Tweets by real people that provided some much needed comedic relief in 2020. You'll find the uplifting or hilarious messages scattered around billboards and murals in SF–including on the Bay Bridge and at Lake Merritt. If you're lucky, maybe you'll even spot your own! // See Tweets on twitter.com
Watch SF native and pianist Adam Shulman perform Vince Guaraldi's iconic A Charlie Brown Christmas; on demand Thursday through Saturday. // Details (concert included with SFJAZZ $5 monthly membership) on sfjazz.org
Help identify missing muralist information in Oakland. The East Oakland Black Cultural Zone Collaborative and the Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation are working to preserve social justice movement artifacts by identifying the artists behind murals and artworks created as a form of protest against police brutality and racism. Check out the PowerPoint of murals missing artist information, and then submit any info you have. // Information on google.com
