Outdoor or indoor, take your pick, from concerts to treasure hunting, space viewing events, and more.
Thursday, Aug. 6
Downtown First Thursdays has you covered for happy hour; live music; D.J. Eric Rhodes; line and flamenco dancing; bachata and salsa lessons; and more. 5 to 10 p.m. on Second Street between Market and Howard streets. Free admission; RSVP here.
Friday, Aug. 7
The San Francisco Aerial Arts Festival opens today featuring “aerial dance, circus arts, and site-responsive performance” from 15 choreographers, six youth companies, and 20 films. Through Sunday at Fort Mason. Visit link above for schedule. Tickets from $13.
A San Francisco favorite chanteuse, Paula West, will perform an eclectic selection of songs from the Great American Songbook to David Bowie and Johnny Cash in two shows at the Keyes Jazz Bistro. Tickets: $40
Saturday, Aug. 8
The Hillwide Garage Sale in Bernal Heights is a ginormous annual fundraiser to support community housing and other programs. Treasure hunters can search a map of participating garages and here and also see what’s up for sale. Free admission.
The33rd Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival, starts today, the largest celebration of Filipino Americans in the country. You’ll find art, culinary, dance, health, heritage, innovation, sports, and tavern pavilions; entertainment; food vendors; and more. Through Sunday at Yerba Buena Gardens. Free admission.
Sunday, Aug. 9
It’s always cool over on the beach, but it won’t interfere with some nice music at Sunday Serenades, part of the Sundays at the Beach series (just don your down like this little girl, who is clearly enjoying). Noon to 2 p.m. on the Great Highway/Sunset Dunes Park. Free admission.
ACT’s adaptation of the romantic comedy of Viola and the Duke in the Bard’s classic Twelfth Night features jazz-funk music and young performers, making it sound like a not-to-miss to me. Through Aug. 16 at the Strand Theater. Tickets from $35.
Notable Next Week
Monday, Aug. 10
Here’s a nice way to spend your lunch break: Monday Outdoor Yoga at the Ferry Plaza. Headphones provided to create an immersive sound experience and help you stay present. All levels welcome. So grab your mat and head on over. Noon to 1 p.m. on the back plaza (with a bay view) or the Promenade at the foot of Market Street. Free admission; RSVP here.
Tuesday, Aug. 11
So here’s another lunchtime option: some swingy music from 1930s. European jazz to NOLO, ragtime, and more, happening at People in Plazas today thanks to Gaucho Jazz. Free admission.
Wednesday, Aug. 12
There’s a solar eclipse happening today, so we’ve got two watch parties for you thanks to our fine science museums. The Exploratorium, which has paired with NASA for lotsa years, will host a Total Solar Eclipse Watch Party with telescope live-streaming footage from Spain, where totality will occur around 11:30 a.m. in San Francisco; from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., there will be demonstrations, talks, outdoor solar telescope viewing, and more. Visit this link for viewing options.
And Cal Academy has partnered with SETI for Total Solar Eclipse with with music from the international space orchestra, composed of astronauts, scientists, engineers, and researchers. Visit that link above for viewing options.
This year is expected to be one of the best to view the Perseid meteor showers, which happen when the Earth passes through the dust and debris of the comet Swift-Tuttle and produces an impressive display of shooting stars, often up to 100 meteor showers per hour. Northern sky late evening through early dawn Thursday (peak viewing), although the showers will be visible through Aug. 24. Visit this link to find the best Bay Area viewing. Free viewing, courtesy the universe.
Be safe and kind whatever you choose to do, and enjoy.
