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Memorial Day Weekend: Get Away in Town

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:17:17 +0000

One of the many furnishings, artworks and design pieces
in the San Francisco Decorator Showcase's renovated mansion.
Photo by B. Koh.

Stop envying your friends and co-workers who'll be out of town this weekend. While they're battling roads and airports, you'll already be at your get-away (or three). The Asian Art Museum's exhibit of terra cotta warriors will whisk you to China circa 220 B.C.E.--and you can get much closer (we're talking inches) to the life-like statues here than you can at their permanent home in Xian. Ogle the century-old Pacific Heights manor of former art collectors and socialites that's been remodeled and staged to the hilt, thanks to the San Francisco Decorator Showcase. (After all, how often do you get to roam through a $12 million house?) Monday is the last day of both the warriors exhibit and Decorator Showcase.

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Saturday in SF: Leis, Chihuahuas & More

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:48:02 +0000

Tucker tied for first place in the 2012 Whole Enchihuahua
costume contest. Photo by Kira Stackhouse.

The activity level in the Bay Area this weekend reaches hyperactive highs. On Saturday, find all things Asian-Pacific at Civic Center and the Tenderloin: Cooking demos by Martin Yan and other chefs, taiko drummers, aloha shirts, Asian bands and DJs, fresh leis, an ethnic costume parade, origami art, a fashion show of local Asian designers' apparel, and films and music videos by local Asian Pacific Americans screened at the Asian Art Museum (which is free that day). The Asian Heritage Street Celebration runs until 6 pm.

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Bay to Breakers Online Registration Ends Tonight

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:36:28 +0000

Bay to Breakers runners come dressed as movable feasts.
Photo courtesy of Bay to Breakers

You can't call yourself a San Franciscan unless you've run (or jogged or walked) Bay to Breakers at least once. Online registration for Sunday's one-of-a-kind race continues until 11:55 pm today (May 15). Should you miss tonight's deadline, you might be able to register in person at the pre-race fitness expo on Friday and Saturday. If you miss that, you can watch the mobile costume party from the sidelines. But you're still not a San Franciscan.

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Mother's Day & Other Weekend Fun

Fri, 10 May 2013 19:02:39 +0000

If you haven't figured out how or where to treat Mom, check our Mother's Day guide--it lists tours, shopping, brunches, comedy and other options happening as of today (so you don't have to wait until Sunday!) For something out of the ordinary, take a factory tour this weekend, as part of SFMade Week--see how everything from bikes to Rickshaw Bags are made, right here in SF. Even more out of the ordinary, go on the Saturday tour of Crave, which designs and makes vibrators...

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See How It's Made: SFMade Week

Thu, 02 May 2013 19:07:00 +0000

The week of May 6-12, 2013 will prove that many businesses in San Francisco are making it. They're not tech companies, and what they are making are not intangibles, but real things like wedding gowns, light fixtures and popcorn. During the week, they will be open for behind-the-scenes tours, and some will even let you try your hand at manufacturing.

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Movie Madness Hits SF

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:59:35 +0000

Walk the red carpet, snap pics of Greta Gerwig, Kate Bosworth and Michael Cera, hear Steven Soderbergh explain why he's leaving movies for painting, and see 160 films in 14 days. Yep, all of it's doable because the San Francisco International Film Festival is in town, April 25-May 9. The directors and six-year-old wunderkind of What Maisie Knew are here for tonight's opening at the Castro Theatre (your first red-carpet opportunity). Our 2013 SFIFF guide has the run-down, and we've also highlighted films from or about the Bay Area.

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Gourmet Sliders, Wagyu Tartar, Pop Tarts at the W

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:35:40 +0000

Grass-fed burgers by food truck Fiveten Burgers will be
served at the W. Photo courtesy of Fiveten Burgers.

Sliders with caramelized-crusted beef patties, tater tots with black truffle and black bass sandwiches will be served Tuesday night, April 23, at the W San Francisco, in a dinner collaboration between the hotel and a boutique-burger food truck.

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Nature's Calling

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:53:34 +0000

Wildflowers blooming at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Photo by Don Mahoney

Holidays remind us of important people and things we take for granted, and in that sense, the most crucial one of the year is here: Earth Day, on Monday, April 22. Walk in the woods, test-drive an electric vehicle, help clean up a beach, get a free sapling or compost and get tips on living green at the SF Bay Area's many Earth Day events, starting this weekend. You can also appreciate Mother Nature in Golden Gate Park, where the botanical garden's California wildflower meadow is now bursting with colorful blooms.

Plant Zones in the San Francisco Bay Area

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:03:34 +0000

If you're starting a garden and deciding what to grow in it, you may want to check on your plant zone. (Unlike most zoning in San Francisco, this, fortunately, does not require dealing with the bureaucracy at City Hall). Plant zones are standards to help determine which plants are most likely to flourish in your neck of the woods.

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Pedestrians First

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:47:03 +0000

We've all heard that motto at some point in our lives, though we rarely think about it. But now there's a drive in San Francisco to make it stick, starting with "Walk to Work Day" tomorrow, April 12. In the morning, nearly all of the city's supervisors (and anyone who wants to join them) will be walking at least part way to City Hall. So will the mayor. At various spots around town, coffee, snacks, stickers, and other rewards will be given out to walkers.

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