33 Fun Things to Do This Week (5.2.22)
Ben Harper takes the stage at Mill Valley Music Festival on May 7th. (Courtesy of @millvalleymusicfest)

33 Fun Things to Do This Week (5.2.22)

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We hope the hardest thing you have to do this week is choose between so many fun ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, May the Fourth, and Mother's Day.

This week, top billing goes to the internationally acclaimed Star Wars burlesque parody The Empire Strips Back, Chelsea Handler and beau Jo Koy both live in SF, a craft tequila and mezcal tasting, hat-tastic Kentucky Derby parties, the Mill Valley Music Festival, and several pretty delicious ways to celebrate Mom.


Have a good one!

Be amazed by The Walt Disney Family Museum’s first cause awareness exhibition, Creative Conservation: The Art of Endangered Animals.This brand-new, original exhibit features paintings by rescued and rehabilitated animals from wildlife sanctuaries and conservation organizations around the world. Proceeds from the sale of artworks made by the featured animals will go toward supporting their respective partner sanctuary; on view now through Fall 2022. // The Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery St. (Presidio); tickets a waltdisney.org.


Toast to The Town—it's Oakland Cocktail Week. Bars and restaurants will be slinging specialty drinks Monday through Sunday, plus there will be special events including The Town Throwdown at Sobre Mesa, A Very Giving Cinco at Co Nam, the 5th Annual Passionfruit Dance Party at Crybaby, and more. // For a full lineup of events and participating bars and restaurants visit oaklandcocktailweek.com.


The prettier Jesus, Lorde, blesses us with her Solar Power tour; Tuesday at 7:30pm. // Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St. (Civic Center); tickets at ticketmaster.com.


Support your local makers by shopping at a City Hall pop-up celebrating SFMade Week. Plus, live music, food trucks, and raffles will be happening all day; Tuesday, 11am to 6pm. // San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B. Goodlett Pl. (Civic Center); details at shopdine49.com.

Find your groove at SF’s newest cocktail bar, For the Record. The retro-themed bar channels the very best of the '70s with patterned wallpaper, hanging disco balls, and drinks inspired by a different song created between the late 1960s and mid-1980s; now open Tuesdays to Sunday, 5pm ‘til late. // For the Record, 2120 Greenwich St. (Marina); details at fortherecordsf.com


The Bar Code is hosting yet another fab pop-up. The stars of the show: effortless and elegant fashions from L.A.-made d'Offay and beautiful fine jewelry from SF's RaliCouture. Hint, hint: Mother's Day is May 8th. // Tuesday through Sunday, May 8th, 11am to 5pm; 3600 Sacramento St. (Presidio Heights), thebarcodesf.com


For one-night-only DNA Lounge will turn into the Mos Eisley Cantina in celebration of May the Fourth (be with you). There will be specialty Star Wars cocktails, cosplay photo ops, and other out-of-this-world surprises; Wednesday, 8pm to 2:30am. // DNA Lounge, 375 11th St. (SoMa); tickets at dnalounge.com

Get a preview of The Empire Strips Backthe internationally acclaimed and unauthorized Star Wars burlesque parody—ahead of their eight-week summer residency at The Great Star Theater. DJ’ing Darth and an appearance by the Sexy Stormtroopers will keep this costumes-encouraged party entertained; Wednesday, 6pm to 8pm. // The Great Star Theater, 636 Jackson St. (Chinatown); tickets at feverup.com


This Thursday, the Embarcadero is alive with the sound of music. At this special music edition of Exploratorium's After Dark, you’ll discover the full spectrum of sound and music as you explore the museum, plus a performance by Awesöme Orchestra; Thursday, 6pm to 10pm. // Exploratorium, Pier 15 (Embarcadero); tickets at exploratorium.edu


For those of us who have aged out of holiday bar crawls, give the 8th Annual Craft Agave Tequila & Mezcal Tasting a go on Cinco de Mayo. Enjoy views of the Bay as you taste your way through craft tequila and mezcal on Hotel Via’s rooftop; Thursday, 5:30pm to 8pm. // Hotel Via, 138 King St. (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com


For those of you who still have the stamina for bar crawls, head to Polk Street for a Cinco de Mayo bar crawl. Just leave the sombreros at home… that’s so 2006; Thursday, 6pm to 11pm. // Mayes Oyster House, 1233 Polk St. (Nob Hill); tickets at cincosf.com


Add some flavor to your Cinco de Mayo with $7 margaritas (guava, tamarind, spicy cucumber—yum!) and $5 fish tacos at Barrio Chino. Plus, DJ D.LO will be playing all night with no cover; Thursday, 4pm to 11pm. // Barrio Chino, 2030 Lombard St. (Marina); details at barriochinosf.com

Indulge Mom’s sweet tooth by decorating a custom edible cookie bouquet for her just in time for Mother's Day; Thursday, 5:30pm to 7pm. // Ferry Building (Embarcadero); tickets at eventbrite.com


At last, beloved DJ duo Sasha and John Digweed are back in SF for a headlining show that electronic music fans won’t want to miss; Friday, 9:30pm. // The Midway, 900 Marin St. (Bayview); tickets at tixr.com


The always relatable Chelsea Handler brings her Vaccinated and Horny comedy tour to The Masonic for two back-to-back shows this Friday at 7pm and 9:30pm. // The Masonic, 1111 California St. (Nob Hill); tickets at concerts.livenation.com


For two nights, comedian Jo Koy, aka Chelsea Handler’s current beau, will fill Chase Center with laughter on his Bay Area Funny Is Funny World Tour stop; Friday and Saturday at 8pm. // Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way (Mission Bay); tickets at ticketmaster.com

Sultry circus cabaret AirOtic is coming to town. Indulge in sophisticated cocktails as a cast of world-class acrobats perform a seductive immersive burlesque performance; Friday at 8pm. // The Great Star Theater, 636 Jackson St. (Chinatown); tickets at feverup.com


Soak up some summer vibes at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, which kicks off with all-star Cuban percussionist Jesús Díaz y su Habana Afro-Cuban Ensemble and a pre-show set from Chulita Vinyl Club; 12:30pm Saturday, festival through October. // Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission St. between 3rd & 4th St. (SoMa); details at ybgfestival.org

Thank you to our partners at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.


Bring the kids to Japantown for the annual Children’s Day Festival. All afternoon there will be games and prizes, crafts, face painting, bounce houses, and live performances. Admission is free and open to all; Saturday, 11am to 4pm. // Japantown Peace Plaza (Japantown); details atjcccnc.org


For the first time ever, a pop-up of the decades-old Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow comes to Golden Gate Park. Some of the best artists in Jewish culture today will perform a free, all-ages concert at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell; Saturday, 12pm to 4pm. // Details at valueculture.org

Shop from and support your local femme makers at Girl Gang Craft. This affordable, inclusive fair is the perfect place to get the mother figures in your life a gift, or treat yourself. We’ll be doing a bit of both; Saturday, 11am to 5pm. // Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr. (Oakland); RSVP at eventbrite.com


The Richmond District deserves more foot traffic than just during Outside Lands. Thankfully, Art Walk SF is showing love to the Outer Richmond with a family-friendly community event in Balboa Village. Between 35th and 39th avenues, you’ll be able to support local businesses via sidewalk sales, live performances, mural making, and more; Saturday, noon to 5pm. // Village Place, 3425 Balboa St. (Outer Richmond); details at eventbrite.com

Pony up to the bar for mint juleps—it’s the 10th Annual Guardsmen Kentucky Derby Party. Enjoy a hosted bar while participating in sporting lawn games, auction, and prize raffle. Traditional Derby attire is encouraged and prizes will be awarded for best dressed and most creative; Saturday, 1pm to 6pm. // General's Residence, 1 Fort Mason (Presidio); tickets at eventbrite.com


Get your hats ready and bust out your bowties! Kendall-Jackson, the “Preferred Wine of the Kentucky Derby” is bringing the excitement to Wine Country with the largest West Coast celebration for the 148th Run for the Roses on May 7th at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Sonoma County. Celebrate with award-winning wine, fantastic food, a large-screen viewing of Kentucky Derby races, live music, and more; Saturday, 11am to 5:30pm. // Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, 5007 Fulton Rd. (Fulton); Tickets ($125/person and $100/wine club members, designated drivers, and guests under 21) are available at kj.com.

Thank you to our partners at Kendall-Jackson.


Go fly a kite. No, seriously. Celebrate 20 years of Crissy Field at Kite Day. The first 1,500 people will receive a free, beautifully designed kite to commemorate the anniversary; Saturday, 1pm to 3pm. // Crissy Field, Mason St. (Presidio); details at parksconservancy.org

Get yourself to the California Artisan Cheese Festival for a day of sampling more than 100 award-winning cheeses and local artisan goods. Mix and mingle with California cheesemakers, local winemakers, brewers, distillers, and much more; Saturday, noon to 4pm. // Sonoma County Event Center, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd. (Santa Rosa); tickets at artisancheesefestival.com


Round up your family of music lovers for the Mill Valley Music Festival. Expect sets from Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Lettuce, Liz Cooper, Los Amigos Invisibles, and La Doña—plus entertainment that includes a children’s activity zone, all-ages arcade tent, rejuvenating wellness area, art installations, and pop-up roller-skating rink; Saturday, noon to 7pm. // Friends Field, 180 Camino Alto (Mill Valley); tickets at eventbrite.com


Pinkies up for Mother's Day Tea at The Westin St. Francis. The classic high-tea service will include live music, a flower wall photo backdrop, and bouquets to take home; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 2pm. // Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St. (Union Square); tickets at eventbrite.com

Pre-order a floral bouquet to pick up at Mother's Day dinner at Penny Roma. The restaurant is teaming up with Judy Leung of Found Floral who will make bouquets ($65 each) for diners, 10am to 4:30pm. Guests also have the option to order a handmade ceramic vase from Uniqlay Ceramics ($135); a portion of the proceeds will support AAWAA (Asian American Women Artists Association). Preordered bouquets are available here and a limited number of bouquets will be available for purchase in Penny Roma on Sunday. // Penny Roma, 3000 20th St. (Mission); reservations at pennyroma.com


Grab dinner at Wilder and receive a free flower bouquet, plus partake of the Instagramable flower wall, specialty cocktails, and $1.50 oysters; Sunday. // Wilder, 3154 Fillmore St. (Cow Hollow); reservations at wildersf.com


Besharam is hosting a Mother's Day party complete with a roving Indian street food cart punched up with a splash of gin. // Besharam, 1275 Minnesota St. (Dogpatch); reservations are encouraged via tock.com


And, the newly re-opened Colibri Mexican Restaurant (formerly in Union Square) will be offering complimentary mimosas for all moms at their new digs in the Presidio. // Presidio Officer's Club, 50 Moraga Ave. (Presidio); reservations at yelp.com


Stop and smell the roses, literally, at the 81st Annual Mother's Day Rose Show. On display will be roses from San Francisco gardens—from hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, polyanthas, shrub roses, and climbing roses; Sunday at 12:30pm to 4pm. // San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 9th ave. (Golden Gate Park); details at sfrosesociety.org

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