This week is all about the arts.
Opt outside for a silent disco–style guided meditation at Lands End, purchase original artwork to support Ukrainian refugees, take a stroll in the Oakland Hills for the Montclair Art Walk, create your own Anthro-style candle with the folks at Often Wander, head to Alameda for an immersive historical performance, and get a taste of SF Carnaval.
Plus, the first-ever Black Vintners Wine Festival in Oakland, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus entertains with Fabulous & Forbidden Broadway, the debut of the Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience, and much more.
Have a good one!
This week, The Center for Asian-American Media presents the 40th Annual CAAMFest, a celebration of the richness and diversity of the Asian-American experience. Catch the best in Asian and Asian-American stories through film screenings, panels, and conversations through Sunday, May 22. // caamfest.com
In a world of consistent chaos, find hope in the future at the in-person return of Night of Ideas, exploring the theme "(Re)building Together: Where Are We Going?" Coordinated by the Institut Français, Night of Ideas is being presented in 100 countries worldwide and is sure to be an unforgettable evening of talks, art, music, and community; Tuesday at 7pm. // KQED Headquarters, 2601 Mariposa St. (Mission); RSVP at kqed.org.
Crave Michelin-worthy sushi but lack the funds? Handroll Project is finally open! The new laidback joint is the brainchild of Ju-Ni's starred chef Geoffrey Lee and partner Tan Truong, and features open-faced hand rolls that you can order a la carte or in a perfectly paired set; Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm to 9pm. // Handroll Project, 598 Guerro St. (Mission); details at instagram.com
Enjoy classical music in the wild at In a Landscape, an outdoor concert series where America's most stunning landscapes replace the traditional concert hall. The Bay Area stop will be held at San Francisco's Botanical Gardens where you can roam around and explore spring blooms as live piano music is transmitted to you via wireless headphones; Wednesday and Thursday at 5:30pm. // San Francisco Botanical Gardens, 1199 9th Ave. (Golden Gate Park); tickets at eventbrite.com
Let music transport you as you explore one of the Bay's most beautiful trails with MindTravel's silent walking meditation. Pianist Murray Hidary's mesmerizing compositions will be delivered to you via wireless headphones as you explore Lands End; Thursday at 8am. // Lands End Trail, 600 Point Lobos Ave. (Sea Cliff); tickets at eventbrite.com
Join the pawty at Temescal Brewing for Barks & Brews Trivia Night. Your $10 donation benefits Family Dog Rescue, plus it gets you your first beer, prizes for winning trivia teams, and goodie bags for your pooch to take home; Thursday, 4pm to 6pm. // Temescal Brewing, 4115 Telegraph Ave. (Oakland); tickets at eventbrite.com
SF Carnaval is right around the corner, but the party is already getting started. Explore the Mission District's Latino, Caribbean and African Diasporic cultures through live music, art, Salvadoran cuisine, and entertainment at the Carnaval SF VIP party; Thursday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm. // The Standard Salon, 2502 Mariposa St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com
Set the overpriced candle down and back away—Often Wander's candle designing parties are back. Bring your favorite vessel to the shop to fill it with wax and the scents of your choosing; Thursday, 4pm to 8pm. // Often Wander, 593 Valencia St. (Mission); details at oftenwander.com
Catch up with Moneyball, The Blind Side, and The Big Short author Michael Lewis as he discusses his new book about the pandemic, The Premonition, with fellow author Dave Eggers at City Arts and Lectures; Thursday, 7:30pm. // Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St. (Hayes Valley); tickets at cityarts.net
Swirl and sip world-class white wine at the Chardonnay Classic in Napa Valley. For three days, master somms, winemakers, and enthusiasts will gather together for curated tasting experiences, dinners, comedy shows, and more; Friday to Sunday. // Meritage Resort & Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way (Napa); tickets at chardonnayclassic.com
Shop 'til you drop at the Vintage Fashion Faire Tropicanaversary. You'll find 85 booths showcasing a wide array of women’s and men’s clothing, couture, jewelry, accessories, textiles, fine linens, and more. Plus, don't miss the opening night party with live music, cocktails, and a fashion contest; 6pm to 10pm Friday and 11am to 5pm Saturday. // Michaan's Annex Auction Showroom, 2701 Monarch St. (Alameda); tickets at vintagefashionfaire.com
Curiouser and curiouser about the "Thoughts of a Black Mad Hatter?” Have a proverbial cup of tea with "American Black dandy" Michael Wayne Turner III in his one-man, hip-hop show “Hat Matter," a mashup of poetry, stories, monologues, and dance all set to original classical music; 7:30pm Friday through Sunday. // The Oakland Theater at Flax Art & Design, 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Way (Oakland); tickets ($25-$75) are available at oaklandtheaterproject.org.
Get your fill of baklava and gyros at the 50th Annual Oakland Greek Festival. Whether you're of Greek heritage or just Greek for the weekend, everyone is welcome to enjoy homemade cuisine, traditional dance and music, art, and views of the Bay; 4pm to 10pm Friday and 11am to 9pm Saturday and Sunday. // Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Ave. (Oakland); tickets at oaklandgreekfestival.com.
Mingle with Headlands artists past and present and bid on spectacular artwork at the Headlands Center of the Arts Annual Benefit Auction and Opening Celebration. Plus, explore floral installations by Saint Flora and an obliteration room for kids of all ages from Wild Child; Friday, 6pm to 9pm. // Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Waste not, want not at Imperfect Food's Waste Week Pop-Up, which aims to put 1,000 pounds of food to good use in just a week. They're partnering with local restaurants to create limited-edition menu items made with Imperfect ingredients and $5 for every dish sold will benefit Food Shift; Friday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm. // Spark Social SF, 601 Mission Bay Blvd. (Mission Bay); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Visit the new Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience at Ghirardelli Square. The first 170 guests will receive free World Famous Hot Fudge Sundaes. Entertainment and doors open at 11:30 Friday. // Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point St. (Fisherman’s Wharf); for more information go to ghirardelli.com.
Thank you to our partners at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.
Mingle with celeb chefs and world-famous vintners at the Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience. Events include cooking demos, seminars, live music, and of course dining experiences and wine and cheese tastings. If you have the means to splurge on VIP, you won't regret it with a special dinner at Single Thread, Matt Horn barbecue, a magnum party, and much more; Friday through Sunday. // healdsburgwineandfood.com
Join Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson for "An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies." He'll review all the science that they got wrong (and right) in favorite films such as The Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter; Friday at 7pm. // Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St. (Civic Center); tickets at broadwaysf.com
What is the meaning of the gun in American life?S D A (Someone Dies Again), a play by European director Árpád Schilling in collaboration with the Imaginists, aims to answer the question. Expect a darkly humorous exploration of America's preoccupation with the gun; shows Friday through May 28th. // Z Space, 450 Florida St. (Mission); tickets at theimaginists.org
Root Division celebrates 20 years of cultivating community-minded artists with a special anniversary performance. This free, outdoor event will feature more than a dozen artists and alums from Root Division’s Studios Program. There will be food and drink pop-ups, and free all-ages art activities; Saturday, 2pm to 6pm. // Kapwa Gardens, 967 Mission St. (SoMa); RSVP at rootdivision.org
Don't miss a very special screening of Tell Them We Were Here, a feature-length documentary about Bay Area artists set to a soundtrack by local musicians. For one night only, directors Griff and Keelan Williams will be in attendance for a screening and a performance by Vetiver; Saturday at 7:30pm. // The Balboa, 3630 Balboa St. (Outer Richmond); tickets at balboamovies.com
Experience the redwoods like never before. Just a few hours north of San Francisco, the historic Skunk Train has run weekly trips out of both Fort Bragg and Willits since 1885 and continues to transport visitors along the world-famous Redwood Route over historic trestle bridges, along gently wending tributaries, and deep into primeval redwood canyons. Don't miss their custom-build new railbikes experience. // For more info, go to skunktrain.com.
Thank you to our partners at Skunk Train.
Gather your tribe for the Toasted Life Outdoor Block Party. There will be DJs spinning all day long and food and drink available to keep you fueled; Saturday, 1pm to 7pm. // 341 13th St. (Oakland); tickets at eventbrite.com
Island City Waterways brings Alameda's unique waterfront and naval history to life through music, dance, theater, and storytelling. A cast of 35 actors, dancers, and musicians will guide you on an easy stroll around Alameda Point for a 75-minute immersive performance through the early days of aviation, a swing dance lesson, and more; Saturday and Sunday, 10am, 11:45am, 1:30pm, and 3:15pm. // Alameda Point's West Mall (Alameda); RSVP at islandcitywaterways.org
Find your groove at The Berkeley Farmers Market Salsa Festival. Enjoy live music and performances all day and learn how to salsa with a step-by-step demo for beginners. Cool down with a mojito and shop for sustainable jewelry, pottery, and more from local artisans; Saturday, 10am to 5pm. // Downtown Berkeley Farmers' Market, 1947 Center St. (Berkeley); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Put on the ritz with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus at the hilarious concertFabulous & Forbidden Broadway. The Chorus' beloved HomoPhonics and The Lollipop Guild will perform arrangements of Broadway classics and contemporary favorites including Les Misérables, The Lion King, Wicked, Avenue Q, Dear Evan Hansen, and more; Saturday at 7pm. // Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights); tickets at sfgmc.secure.force.com
Show your support for Ukraine at the Sausalito Art Festival Foundation's benefit art sale, with proceeds donated to UNICEF, the Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen. Artwork will be available for purchase in multiple creative categories; Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm. // Sausalito Center for the Arts, 750 Bridgeway (Sausalito); RSVP at sausalitoartfestival.org
Head to the hills for the Montclair Village Summer Art Walk. Now in its 45th year, more than 65 artists from the Bay Area and beyond will display and sell their wares in an open-air festival in Montclair Village; Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm. // Montclair Village, Mountain Blvd & La Salle Ave. (Oakland); details at pacificfinearts.com
Three Bay Area composers explore issues of belonging, displacement, and new beginnings in Music of Remembrance. These original works are a part of a larger effort to memorialize the Holocaust through music and honor the resilience of all people excluded or persecuted for their faith, nationality, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality; Sunday at 4pm. // Presidio Theatre, 2340 Chestnut St. (Marina); tickets at presidiotheatre.org
Discover your new favorite wine at the first-ever Black Vintners Wine Festival in Oakland. Meet the talented folks behind the Association of African-American Vintners and Black-owned wineries while sampling their wines; Sunday, noon to 4pm. // Kissel Uptown Oakland, 437 25th St. (Oakland); tickets at eventbrite.com
