We hope your greatest challenge this week is prioritizing these 15 seriously awesome things to do around the Bay.
Sip natural wines while learning how to create art with natural dye, celebrate Bubbi's favorite cured meat on National Pastrami Day, explore Downtown Napa's outdoor light festival on foot, savor your way around the world at a Latin food festival, and more.
With Omicron changing the state of things daily, be sure to triple-check the status of the activities below before heading out. Have a good one.
Following in the footsteps of the espresso martini comeback in 2021, Andytown Coffee Roasters and Barebottle Brewing Company recently collaborated to bring us Birds of a Feather—the beer version of Andytown’s famous espresso cream soda, the Snowy Plover. Get yourself a pint at their Bernal Heights or Santa Clara taprooms; daily. // barebottle.com
Celebrate Black art at Gold Beams' Second Mondays, a multi-disciplinary open mic stage that welcomes comedy, poetry, singing, rapping, instrumentalists, and more; Monday, 6pm to 9pm. // The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave. (Oakland); details at goldbeams.org
Get stoked for BottleRock 2022! Lineup drops at 8am Monday, and three-day passes go on sale at 10am Tuesday. // Watch for updates at instagram.com/bottlerocknapa.
Keep it real with "Pod Save America" co-host Dan Pfeiffer. If you’ve been trying to understand just WTF happened in Congress this past year, join Pfeiffer for a 45-minute discussion followed by an audience Q&A; Tuesday, 6:20pm to 8pm. // Manny’s, 3092 16th St. (Mission); IRL and virtual tickets at eventbrite.com
Experience the magic of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child live on stage. Opening night is Tuesday at 7pm, shows through Sept. 4th. // The Curran, 445 Geary St. (TenderNob); tickets at sf.harrypottertheplay.com
This week, pair your cacio e pepe with a glass of Pasta Water, a new collaborative wine bottling between the Flour+Water group and the natural winemakers at Subject to Change. Winemaker Alex Pomerantz will be pouring the new release; Thursday, 5:30pm to 10pm. // Walk-ins welcome at Flour + Water Pasta Shop, reservations encouraged at Penny Roma, 3000 20th St., (Mission).
The new year deserves a Palette Cleanser—enter Palette Gallery’s new mixed-media exhibition inspired by the optimism of new beginnings. Grab dinner at sister restaurant Palette, then pop over to the gallery to meet the artists and taste signature cocktails inspired by the art; Thursday from 6pm to 10pm. // Palette Gallery, 816 Folsom St. (SoMa); RSVP at palette-gallery.com.
Go au naturel at a workshop on natural wines and natural dyeing techniques. A fiber artist will walk you through experimenting with natural dyes while a wine educator guides you through a tasting; Thursday, 6pm to 8pm. // Upper Market Gallery, 4690 18th St. (Castro); tickets at eventbrite.com
NightLife of the Party celebrates the return of Cal Academy’s adults-only after-hours event. Celebrate highlights of the last year, like the 70 new species discovered by Academy scientists. Plus, a collaboration with the Museum of Craft and Design gives you the opportunity to create your own custom T-shirt with indigenously sourced mineral pigments. To help keep guests safe and ensure everyone has plenty of room to roam, NightLife will be limiting capacity and have timed-entry tickets; Thursday, 6pm to 10pm. // The California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr. (Golden Gate Park); tickets at calacademy.org
Honor your bubbie’s favorite cured meat—January 14th is National Pastrami Day. Celebrate in the heart of the Castro at Hot Johnnie’s where they’ll be serving up overstuffed pastrami sammis, tacos, nachos, and more; Friday, 11am to 10pm. // Hot Johnnie’s, 4077 18th St. (Castro), hotjohnnies.com
Lighten up with Marin-based artist Keira Kotler, whose abstract photoworks are just the bright spot you need this week. Her new solo exhibition, Light of Day, is dramatic, romantic, and absolutely mesmerizing. Kotler will be in house for a talk and opening reception, 3:30pm to 5:30pm Saturday; exhibit through March 5th. // Brian Gross Fine Art, 248 Utah St. (Mission), briangrossfineart.com
For some outdoor, family-friendly fun head to Downtown Napa for the Napa Lighted Art Festival, on view for the next eight weeks. Explore lighted art sculptures on foot beginning this Saturday, 6pm to 10pm. // First Street (Napa); details at donapa.com
Learn how to grow your own victory garden at this in-person workshop that will teach you how to plant and grow thriving fruits and vegetables year-round due to San Francisco’s unique gardening climate; Saturday, 10am to noon. // Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Ave. (Inner Sunset); details at eventbrite.com
For those Sunday mornings where you just can’t, head to Jaranita’s Pajama Brunch. Dish on the events of last night over huevos Jarana and bottomless mimosas. If your whole crew comes in PJs, you’ll get a comped bottle of bubbly; Sundays, 11:30am to 3pm. // Jaranita SF Peruvian Rotisserie, 334- Steiner St. (Marina); reservations at jaranitasf.com
Get a little taste of NYC in SF with an all-day house party. Wear layers and get ready to dance until the sun comes down to the beats of beloved Bay Area house icon David Harness at Hotel Via’s rooftop bar; Sunday from 2pm to 8pm. // Hotel Via, 138 King St. (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com
Latin (food) lovers rejoice—a Latin food festival is coming to town! Taste your way through Puerto Rico, Haiti, Mexico, and more; Sunday from 11am to 5pm. // Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, 1195 Evans Ave. (Bayview); details at eventbrite.com
