If you're a regular follower of this weekly roundup of fun stuff to do in the Bay Area, you've no doubt felt the dearth of actually fun things to do, like, in real life these past many months.
But get ready for a breath of fresh air out there in the world as live happenings are coming back. Grab drinks at Oakland's newest cocktail bar, enjoy brunch with DJ beats, shop an outdoor maker market, and eat your way through Berkeley Restaurant Week.
Purchase goods by AAPI artists in the Create to Stop Hate auction, benefiting Stop AAIP Hate. Although the first round of the auction has already closed—and featured a handful of items by San Francisco-based creatives like Christine Trac of Abacus Row—the second series goes live on Monday. Just want to donate? Visit Create to Stop Hate's GoFundMe. // createtostophate.com
Honor International Transgender Day of Visibility during a panel conversation with SF Public Library and Mirror Memoirs. Participating storytellers and activists include Ebony Ava Harper, Santos LaRose, and Amita Swadhin; Monday at 7pm. // Register for free on sfpl.org.
Closeout Women's History Month with Canela's Women in Wine event. Vino experts Holly Wong and Shelbi Herring will guide you through two whites and two reds by Spanish winemakers; Tuesday at 6pm. // Register ($55) on canelasf.square.site.
Hear from renowned English filmmaker Steve McQueen. The director of the Golden Globe– and Oscar-award winning movie 12 Years a Slave will discuss the social, psychological, and political traumas addressed in his interdisciplinary works; Tuesday at noon. // Register (free) on bampfa.org.
Get your March Munch Madness on during Berkeley Restaurant Week. More than 55 local eateries and watering holes—think Zachary's Chicago Pizza, El Patio, and Eureka! Berkeley—are offering special deals and meals for dine-in or takeout at every price point; through Wednesday. // visitberkeley.com
Clink glasses in celebration of National Oysters on the Half Shell Day at Left Bank Brasserie. The special menu ($39) includes bivalves from Point Reyes, B.C., Washington State, and Humboldt Bay; with wine pairings ($20) including Trimbach Pinot Blanc to Pascal Bouchard Petit Chablis; Wednesday at Left Bank's San Jose, Menlo Park, and Larkspur locations. // Make reservations on leftbank.com.
Attend Healdsburg Jazz's virtual concert, Convergence. Modern-day pianists Victoria Theodore and Tammy L. Hall star as Nina Simone and Mary Lou Williams in this imagined account of the first meeting between the influential musicians. Make an evening of it with a Spoonbar to-go dinner for four; Wednesday at 7pm. // Register ($10 and up) on healdsburgjazz.org.
Watch Post:ballet's Swan Lake. Co-directed by choreographer Robert Dekkers and cinematographer Ben Tarquin, the virtual production showcases classical and contemporary movements filmed in picturesque waterfront settings around the Bay. You'll also be able to chat with the dancers and artists before and after the show; Wednesday at 7pm. // sfdancefilmfest.org
Crack up during an April Fools' Day comedy show. Pam Benjamin of the Mission's Mutiny Radio will host a seated outdoor show with local comedians and the Curryous food truck; Thursday at 7pm. // The Bar, 1600 Dolores; reserve a table for up to six people on eventbrite.com.
Get a "Play in a Box" delivered to your door. After you fill out a survey, Z Space and The Acme Corporation will send you an mp3 player, cue cards, and memory-inducing props that suggest the way you would feel if you actually watched the show. Delivery is available in SF and Alameda counties or for pickup, Friday through Sunday. // Details and tickets ($50) on zspace.org
Shotgun Players' live Zoom performance "Every Time I Feel the Spirit"is an immersive story of a young queer pastor navigating her new congregation's shift to online worship during the pandemic; Wednesday through April 11. // Pay what you can at shotgunplayers.org.
Grab drinks at Oakland's new Low Bar. House cocktails include the Amor Prohibido (tequila, Bruto Americano, hibiscus and jalapeño shrub, bitters) and the Billy Jack (bourbon, apple brandy, grenadine, lemon, and pastis). They're also pouring the classics. Team your tipples with quesabirria tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, and roasted mushrooms; 5pm to 10pm, Thursday through Sunday. Seating is limited. // 23rd and Webster (Oakland); lowbaroakland.com
Holly Wong's three-dimensional mixed-media works are pretty wow—view her abstract paintings, assemblages, and large-scale installation on Saturdays or weekdays by appointment at Slate Gallery, Thursday through May 29. // slateart.net
Chow a spicy fried chicken sandwich or hot wings at The Bird's new Hayes Valley outpost, open daily for limited indoor and outdoor dining, plus pickup and delivery. // 406 Hayes St., thebirdsf.com
Fete artists and activists who are making a change in their communities during the YBCA 100 Summit. Expect performances, stories, and art from honorees; an appearance by Tony Award–winner and Town native Daveed Diggs; and plenty of virtual rooms to explore; 11am to 12:15pm Saturday. // Register (free with $10 suggested donation) on ybca.org.
Brunch for Black Joyat Sobre Mesa. Top Chef talent Nelson German's eatery is offering a special three-course Pan-African meal—including lump crab toast, Impossible meat-stuffed plantains, and North African donuts—set to vibey DJ tunes to benefit the Black Joy Parade; noon to 5pm Saturday // Reservations ($95) are available at eventbrite.com.
Shop Artist and Fleas in the Bay, an outdoor show of makers and vintage wares at Mill Valley Community Center; Saturday from 11am to 5pm. // Book a 90-minute shopping window ($10) on eventbrite.com.
At Squaw? Participate in the annual Red Bull Raid. Just 60 mountaineers can give the half-uphill, half-freeriding skiing adventure a try for their chance to claim victory; Friday and Saturday. // redbull.com
Green your thumb at Planter Day's trailer pop-up. Each month, the shop donates a portion of proceeds to local suicide prevention services. This week, you can find them popping up with Gardeneur at Alameda's South Shore Center; noon Saturday. // planterday.com
Dine at worker-owned restaurant Understory, developed by 8th Street Collective and Oakland Bloom to empower refugee and immigrant chefs and people of color. The rotating menu of Filipino eats might include pork lumpia and tea leaf salad; open Thursday through Saturday with pop ups on Sunday. // understoryoakland.com
Spend Easter with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The annual Easter in the Park event is going virtual. Partake in the Foxy Mary and Hunky Jesus contest and catch appearances by RuPaul's Drag Race alum and trans activist Honey Mahogany, Alex U. Inn, Juanita MORE!, and more; 1pm to 3pm Sunday. // thesisters.org
Appreciate Ruth Bancroft Garden's spring blooms and go for a scavenger hunt. Just for Easter, a whole bunch of bunnies will be hiding in the garden, so try to find them all; 10am to 4pm Sunday. // Tickets ($10 for GA, two hour time slots) on ruthbancroftgarden.org.
Buy yourself a bottle of Cuvée des Cendres, a limited edition summer water rosé from Canard Vineyard. After Canard lost all its Napa Valley estate wines in the 2020 Glass Fire, they set to making a multi-AVA wine that would "represent the unwavering resolve of the California farmers, vintners and winemakers." A portion of the proceeds from the wine (whose name means "from the ashes") will be donated to the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund. // $35, canardvineyard.com