Keep your eyes peeled for comedians and celebs—Sketchfest returns to San Francisco this week.
Plus, get ready for the most eventful Monday in memorable history with countless events celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Then, peruse world-class works at Fog Design + Art, toast the Lunar New Year at a decked-out pop-up bar, and celebrate 20 years of the Noir City Film Festival.
Have a good one.
Mark MLK Day with free admission and special programming at Museum of the African Diaspora. Highlights will include art activities, performances by Dimensions Dance Company and Prescott Circus, and a screening of For Love and Legacy, a documentary tribute to Black Panther Party founder Huey Newton; Monday, 11am to 5pm. // MoAD, 685 Mission St. (SoMa); details at moadsf.org
Don your gear and get outdoorswith free entrance to all National Parks in honor of Dr. King’s birthday; Monday. // Details at nps.gov
You can also honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. by volunteering in the East Bay. Join the Watershed Project, Urban Tilth, Groundwork Richmond, Pogo Park, and others for a variety of service projects along the Richmond Greenway. Volunteer work will be followed by an MLK memorial and community celebration in Unity Park; Monday, 9:30am to 1pm. // Richmond Greenway, 16th St. and Chanslor Ave., and Unity Park, 1605 Ohio Ave. (Richmond); RSVP at thewatershedproject.org
Join thousands in honoring the historic Selma to Montgomery marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. A 1.5-mile march across the Lefty O'Doul Bridge at Oracle Park will commemorate the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. The parade ends at Yerba Buena Gardens in time for afternoon festivities; Monday at 11am. // S.F. Caltrain Station, 700 Fourth St. (SoMa); details at norcalmlkfoundation.org
Enjoy an afternoon of live music at the MLK2023 Music Festival with appearances by Grammy Award–winning artist Tony Lindsay, SF Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin, and comedian Tony Sco; Monday, 1pm to 3:30pm. // Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission St. (SoMa); details at norcalmlkfoundation.org
Try something new with two-day letterpress workshop led by Swiss designer Dafi Kühne. You will learn several non-traditional techniques, theory, and have time to play on the press. All levels welcome; Monday and Tuesday, 5:30pm. // Kavamore Press, 2828 McGee Ave. (Berkeley); tickets at kavamorepress.square.site.
Share vibrant small plates and creative cocktails at Parche, the new contemporary Colombian restaurant housed in Uptown Oakland's former Brown Sugar Kitchen space. The eatery is helmed by chef Paul Iglesias (Canela Bistro); 5pm to 10pm daily. // Parche, 2295 Broadway (Oakland), parcheoak.com
Explore 45 galleries at Fog Design + Art Fair. Things kick off with a Wednesday night preview gala followed by a week of artist and curator talks (topics include AI, NFTs, the art and language of hip hop) and well-known local exhibitors including Crown Point Press, Altman Siegel, Pace Gallery, and Jessica Silverman; Wednesday through Sunday. // Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina); tickets at fogfair.com
Have a toast to the Lunar New Year. Trade Routes is hosting another over-the-top themed pop-up with a 23-foot dragon, Chinese lanterns, and a special drinks menu; Wednesdays through Sundays, through February 12. // Trade Routes, 1750 Polk St. (Nob Hill), traderoutesbar.com
Laugh your ass off at as many as 200 SF Sketchfest shows this week. There will be sketch comedy, stand-up, music, improv, films, tributes, all-star reunions and live podcasts, and the best in the biz will be there—think Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Catherine O'Hara, and Fred Armisen—along with up-and-coming comedians. Plus, select shows will be available for live streaming for the first time ever; Friday through February 5th. // Lineup and tickets at sfsketchfest.com
Decompress at a free Moon Flow yoga class and Athleta pop-up. Light bites and drinks will be served post-class and Athleta is offering $15 off purchases; Friday at 6pm. // The Clancy Hotel, 299 2nd St. (SoMa); RSVP at athleta-events.netlify
See things in black and white at the Noir City Film Festival. The fest is celebrating its 20th anniversary in a new home at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre. Expect 24 films from Hollywood's noir movement over the course of 10 days; Friday through January 29. // Grand Lake Theatre, 3200 Grand Ave. (Oakland); tickets at noircity.com
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a special six-course tasting menu prepared by Luce’s chef de cuisine Dennis Efthymiou in collaboration with Esther Ha, executive chef at Momofuku Ko in NYC; seatings 5:30pm to 8:30pm Saturday. // Luce at InterContinental Hotel, 888 Howard St. (SoMa); reservations available at exploretock.com.
Thank you to our partners at Luce.
Explore Wine Country after dark at Napa's Lighted Art Festival. The walkable experience will take you around Downtown Napa to see 10 illuminated sculptures and projections; 6pm Saturday, through February 19th. // CIA at Copia, 500 First St. (Napa); details and map at donapa.com
After four weeks of sold-out preview shows, The Never Too Late Show Starring Don Reedtakes center stage at The Marsh. Reed will chronicle his award-winning journey in Hollywood via a multimedia presentation; 8:30pm Saturdays and 7pm Sundays, through February 19th (except Jan. 28). // Berkeley Cabaret and Theater, 2120 Allston Way (Berkeley); tickets at themarsh.org
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the opening of Lucky Rabbit, an art show featuring AAPI artists from the Bay Area and beyond; Saturday, 6pm to 9pm. // Helvella Art, 850 42nd Ave. (Oakland); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Cuddle with rabbits, enjoy lion dancing and drum performances, and more at the family-friendly Lunar New Year celebration at Chase Center's Thrive City; Saturday, 4pm to 7pm. // Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way (Mission Bay); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Find out what the heck a king tide is when you join the Exploratorium and Port of San Francisco staff for a stroll along the SF waterfront. Break out your wellies, this event happens rain or shine; Sunday at 11am. // Meet between Pier 3 and Pier 5 (Embarcadero); details at exploratorium.edu
