It's fall, y'all! The start of the best season in the Bay kicks off with the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, the Castro Street Fair, Oaktoberfest, the Tiburon Wine Festival, and more.
Have a good one!
Love is the Drug and Roxy Music is the remedy. Rock out with Brit-band Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Roxy Music on their 50th-anniversary tour. St. Vincent opens things up Monday at 8pm. // Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way (Mission Bay); tickets at chasecenter.com.
See one of the 21st century’s greatest composers tackle the Shakespearean equivalent of a celebrity romance. The world premiere of Antony and Cleopatra, set in a universe where ancient Egypt meets Old Hollywood, opens the San Francisco Opera's 100th Season. Tuesday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm. // War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets at sfopera.com.
Witness a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear under the stars. A production by Oakland’s Marcus Gardley, Lear mirrors Shakespeare’s story but reimagines it with a 21st-century, modern-verse vocabulary that makes it easier to follow; Wednesday to Sunday through October 2. // Cal Shakes, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way (Orinda); tickets at calshakes.org.
The arrival of fall brings an end to some of four favorite outdoor summer fairs and festivals. Don’t miss the last San Rafael Thursdays of the season complete with live music and entertainment, an abundance of outdoor dining, kids activities, a makers market, and more; Thursday, 6pm to 10pm. // 4th Street (San Rafael); details at sanrafaelthursdays.com.
Sip on $7 martinis and snap a picture in what is arguably the city’s best photo booth at The Dorian’s 7th Anniversary party; Thursday, 7pm to 10pm. // The Dorian, 2001 Chestnut St. (Marina); RSVP at eventbrite.com.
Join the fight for health justice by Dining out for Life. Get dinner at a participating restaurant in the East Bay—choices include Calavera, Bird & Buffalo, La Mediterranee, and Telegraph Beer Garden—and 25 percent or more of your bill will be donated to support HIV/AIDS services in the East Bay; Wednesday. // See participating restaurants at diningoutforlife.com.
The annual 50|50 art show challenges California artists to create 50 small artworks within a time span of 50 days. View the results in a show of over 2,700 originals—paintings in oil, watercolor, and acrylic, mixed media pieces, clay, glass, photographs, cyanotypes, and more—and purchase your favorites to take home; Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 7pm. // Sanchez Art Center, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd. (Pacifica); details at thrivealliance.org.
Break out your puffy jacket and bring your burrito of choice for Sundown Cinema. This week, catch a free screening of Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings at Crane Cove Park in Dogpatch; Friday at 6:30pm. // Tickets at dothebay.com.
Kick off the weekend with an Oktoberfest-themed pop-up comedy festival. Every Friday night through October 21, Speakeasy Brewery will transform their tap house into an indoor/outdoor festival with two stages of comedy, food trucks, Oktoberfest-themed food specials, and $5 beers; Friday at 7pm. // 1195 Evans Ave. (Bayview); tickets at eventbrite.com.
After taking the stage at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Elvis Costello does an early and late show at Great American Music Hall. The highly-anticipated one-night affair will see Costello take on intimate tributes to Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter with proceeds benefitting Prader-Willi Homes of California; Friday at 7pm & 10pm. // GAMH, 859 O’Farrell St. (Tenderloin); tickets at gamh.com.
Catch Oakland-born R&B star Kehlani at what is sure to be an epic hometown show. Her Blue Water Road Trip tour features special guests Rico Nasty and Destin Conrad; Friday at 7:30pm. // Oakland Arena, 7000 Joe Morgan Way (Oakland); tickets at theoaklandarena.com.
Break out your best 80’s aprés ski attire for First Descents' annual 80's Ski Party. Re-live the greatest decade of ski wear, and have bottomless beer and pizza while raising money for First Descents, which provides life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other serious health conditions; Friday at 8pm. // Public Works Loft, 161 Erie St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com.
For those who aren’t afraid of things that go bump in the night, test yourself with the all new Unhinged Halloween attraction at Winchester Mystery House. For 13 nights guests will be horrified by the Winchester Mystery House’s scariest show to date. After the haunted tour inside the mansion, you can enjoy the Spirit Carnival, Mystic Midway games, Axe Throwing at the Stables, Lady Fortuna’s Tent of Mystery, the Spookeasy Bar, strolling entertainment, and more; Friday at 6:30pm, 9pm, and 10:30pm. // 525 S Winchester Blvd. (San Jose); tickets at winchestermysteryhouse.com.
Dance your a** off with two nights of Odesza, Sylvan Esso, Elderbrook, and Nasaya at the Shoreline Amphitheatre; Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm. // 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy. (Mountain View); tickets at livenation.com.
Prepare yourself for large crowds at the return of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. Elvis Costello, Marcys Mumford (Mumford and Sons), Emmylou Harris, the Seratones, Jay Som, The Brothers Comatose, and Lucius are just a few of the popular acts that will grace the stages of our favorite free music fest; Friday to Sunday. // Details at hardlystrictlybluegrass.com.
Leave your kids at home for a grown-ups only evening at Children’s Fairyland. Watch as 50 local artists create Fairyland-inspired artwork, head over to the Fairy Hair Spa to get sparkly extensions, and learn what’s in the cards with a tarot reading. At the end of the evening, you’ll have the chance to buy the artwork for $50 each at a live art sale in Aesop’s Theater; Friday, 6pm to 9:30pm. // 699 Bellevue (Oakland); tickets at brushfire.com.
Be entertained by East Coast hip-hop royalty when Wu-Tang Clan and Nas come to the Bay on their NY State of Mind Tour; Saturday at 8pm. // Oakland Arena, 7000 Joe Morgan Way (Oakland); tickets at livenation.com
In need of a reality check? Kevin Hart has you covered on his 2022 tour. The comedian lands at Chase Center this Saturday at 7pm. // 1 Warriors Way (Mission Bay); tickets at chasecenter.com.
Get a taste of Greece and the Middle East in Sonoma County. The 14th Annual Greek and Middle Eastern Festival brings plenty of opportunities to indulge in dolmas and shawarmas, Plus there will be a hookah lounge, henna tattoos, and an international marketplace; Saturday & Sunday, 12pm to 9pm. // St. George Orthodox Church, 7311 College View Dr. (Rohnert Park); details at stgeorgerp.org.
Step inside some of Napa Valley’s moes extravagant homes, guided by the architects that designed them. The AIA Napa Valley Home Tour will take you from the low-lying hills west of Napa to the Oxbow district, the Silverado Trail, and beyond; Saturday, 10am to 4pm. // Gordon Huether Studio, 1821 Monticello Rd. (Napa); tickets at eventbrite.com.
Enjoy fun art activities and a special performance by Paquiyollotzin, Ballet Folklorico of Petaluma, at the free 26th annual Día de los Muertos Festival at the Museum of Sonoma County. The Museum's annual exhibition features artwork and altars created by local artists, students, and collectors; Saturday, 12pm to 4pm. // 425 Seventh St. (Santa Rosa); details at museumsc.org.
The always relatable Chelsea Handler brings her Vaccinated and Horny comedy tour to Mountain Winery Amphitheater; Saturday at 7:30pm. //14831 Pierce Rd. (Saratoga); tickets at axs.com.
Tinkerfest takes over Chabot Space & Science Center. The one-day event celebrates the creative, curious, and inventive spirit in all of us with tons of DIY fun for the whole family; Saturday, 10am to 4pm. // 10000 Skyline Blvd. (Oakland); tickets at chabotspace.org.
Head to a pumpkin patch where the pumpkins never rot—the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch is back. Choose from over 10,000 hand-blown and hand-crafted pumpkins ranging from teeny-tiny to gargantuan. See how it’s done with glass blowing demonstrations all weekend long; Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 5pm. // Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd. (Palo Alto); details at greatglasspumpkinpatch.com.
Enjoy an afternoon of waterfront pours at the 39th Annual Tiburon Wine Festival. In addition to wines from more than 50 wineries near and far, nosh on gourmet bites from local restaurants and listen to live music; Saturday from 1pm to 4pm. // Point Tiburon Plaza, 1701 Tiburon Blvd. (Tiburon); tickets at eventbrite.com.
Don't miss an epic celebration for Hyde Street Studio's 40th Anniversary, featuring Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Presented as part of the Tenderloin Museum's Sounds of the Tenderloin series and a Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Out of the Park concert, the evening will feature performances from a range of talent who have recorded at the famous studio; Saturday, 8pm to 12:30am. // Alcazar Theatre, 650 Geary St. (Tenderoloin); tickets at eventbrite.com.
Check out the latest contemporary restaurant from Alexander’s Steakhouse Group. Chef Eric Upper’s Afici showcases Italian and French flavors highlighting local, seasonal ingredients and some of the best products from around the globe; opens Saturday. // Afcici, 680 Folsom St. (SoMa), aficisf.com
Thank you to our partners at Alexander’s Steakhouse Group.
Oakland's Dimond District will look like a scene straight out of Munich when the streets transform for Oaktoberfest. The family-friendly beer fest features two days of traditional German food in the Bavarian dining hall, over 200 craft beers, live German music, and more; Saturday, 11am to 7pm and Sunday, 10am to 5pm. // Fruitvale Ave. and MacArthur Blvd. (Oakland); details at oaktoberfest.org.
LOL with Jimmy O. Yang (Crazy Rich Asians, Love Hard, Silicon Valley). The comedian headlines back-to-back shows at The Warfield Saturday at 7pm and 9:30pm. // 982 Market St. (Tenderloin); tickets at axs.com.
Learn to make wine the old-fashioned way at Bouchaine Vineyards' Clip, Stomp, and Sip Harvest Party. Toast to the 2022 harvest with a grape-picking contest and grape stomping, and taste vintage wines while enjoying live music and small bites. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest grape harvest! Sunday, 12pm to 3:30pm. // 1075 Buchli Station Rd. (Napa); tickets can be purchased by emailing info@bouchaine.com or by visitng bouchaine.com.
Live a little lot at the 48th annual Castro Street Fair. Expect live music, DJs, food and drink, street vendors, and all-around local color; Sunday, 11am to 6pm. // Castro and Market Sts. (Castro); details at castrostreetfair.org.
Emmy and Tony award–winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth heads to the Ferry Building for a book signing of My Moment, a collection of essays from a diverse group of women including Gloria Steinem, Lena Waithe, Joanna Gaines, Brandi Carlile, Beanie Feldstein, and, of course, Chenoweth (among others); Sunday at 4pm. // Book Passage at the SF Ferry Building (Embarcadero); tickets at bookpassage.com