Beat the fog with some sunny summer events.
LISTEN
Phono Del Sol Music and Food Festival
What: Outside Lands a little too mainstream (read: $325) for you? Head down to Potrero Hill's Potrero Del Sol Park this Saturday for a more reasonable, fewer first-time-weed-smokers music festival. The event features music by local bands HEARTWATCH, Everyone is Dirty, Tiaras, and Scary Little Friends, as well as visiting musicians from Brooklyn, New Orleans, and LA. Rolling favorites like Bacon Bacon and Voodoo Van will be on hand to keep you fueled for a full day of good music and good vibes.
When: Gates open at noon, with the music kicking off at 12:30pm. Tanlines will close out the festival at 7pm on Saturday, July 11.
Where: Potrero Del Sol Park @ 25th and Utah
What: The beloved SF Symphony is joining forces with Bryce Dessner, guitarist for indie rock band The National, to delight Pier 27 goers with a free concert on Sunday. The concert will feature two contemporary orchestral works inspired by natural beauty: Dessner's "St. Caroline By the Sea" (inspired by literary legend Jack Kerouac's Big Sur), and Pulitzer Prize winner David Lane's "mountain" (inspired by Vermont mountain vistas). For those with a little more traditional taste, the orchestra will also take on classics Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 and Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite.
When: Settle in for some soothing melodies at 12pm on Sunday, July 12.
Where: Stroll along the Embarcadero to Pier 27 for an afternoon of musical delights.
SING
Prince and Michael Jackson Karaoke Night at Neck of the Woods
What: The Inner Richmond music venue is breaking out the mics with a karaoke throwback night featuring two '80s music legend: the Prince and the King of Pop. The bar will provide you with plenty of liquid courage to take on "Billie Jean" or "Kiss."
When: Belt it out at 8pm on July 11.
Where: Neck of the Woods is nestled in between great pre-show restaurants at 406 Clement Street.
READ
What: Oakland's fourth annual ode to two of our favorite things—books and booze—puts a unique spin on the normally sloppy pub crawl with an edge of academia. Each venue of the Beast Crawl features readings from a selection of writers for a whirlwind, 4-leg trek complete with food, drink, and literature. Check out venues Pícan and Octopus Literary Salon as you listen to talented writers sharing their work.
When: Start crawling at 5pm on Saturday, July 11. Afterparties will run until 2am.
Where: There are a 35 venues and over 100 writers to choose from in Uptown Oakland. A full listing can be found here.
EAT & DRINK
Hops on Fire: A Spicy Food and IPA Festival at SoMa StrEat Food Park
What: Tired of Karl making this a perpetually chilly summer? Take in some heat at this ode to all things hot and spicy. The event will feature 14 food trucks like Boneyard and Frozen Kustard serving up their most tongue-tingling dishes (think blazing hot barbecue sauce and spicy Mexican chocolate custard) and an all-you-can-drink IPA passport to provide a little cool down.
When: Test your chops against the habaneros and jalapeños between 11am and 6pm on Saturday, July 11.
Where: Food truck haven SoMa StrEat Food Park, at 428 11th Street, will be hosting this muy picante event.
