Events
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Summer Fun at Ghirardelli Square
Ongoing. Stop by for a round of mini golf or shopping, then kick back to some live music every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. in Fountain Plaza, and every Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. in the SF Brewing Co. beer garden. Don’t forget to treat yourself to a World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae from Ghirardelli Chocolate—worth it every time. 900 N. Point St., San Francisco. ghirardellisq.com
Maritime Day in Sausalito
Aug. 7. Don’t miss a day of live music and fish and chips at Sausalito’s annual Maritime Day, a folksy, laid-back waterfront festival put on in the Galilee Harbor houseboat community. Marvel at the town’s maritime heritage through wooden-boat-building demonstrations, historical vessels and the popular “dinghy dash” race. Don’t miss shopping at the marine flea market and artist booths. Sa 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 300 Napa St. (at Bridgeway), Sausalito. galileeharbor.org
Outdoor Cinema Night at Chase Center
Begins Aug. 7. The Warriors are taking a break, so the action has moved outside at Chase Center where anyone can sit under the stars and watch the Marvel classic movie Black Panther. Outdoor Cinema Nights in Thrive City, the community gathering space around Chase Center, are every Saturday through Aug. 28. The event, which makes use of the 74-foot-by-42-foot Thrive City video board, also includes live entertainment, food and beverage vouchers, and perks for Chase cardholders. Sa 5:50-9 p.m. Free. 300 South St., San Francisco. chasecenter.com
Stalking Thundercat in Stern Grove
Aug. 8. While the free concert series among the woods has plenty of new rules, the level of performers is unchanged and this weekend will feature immensely talented bassist and recording artist Thundercat (pictured). The artist, whose shows tend to include a heavy dose of comedy, has been on the rise since releasing It is what it is in 2020, an album that features contributions from Ty Dolla $ign, Childish Gambino, Lil B, and Kamasi Washington. Su 2-5 p.m. All shows are free, but advanced reservations are required for entry. Check online for specific rules for entry. Su 2-5 p.m. Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd., San Francisco. sterngrove.org
Fog City Flea at the Ferry Building
Aug. 8. Don’t let the name fool you; this is not your average flea market. Don’t miss this eclectic gathering of merchants and makers from around the Bay Area and Northern California that organizers say celebrates community, small business, modern craft and local trade. Browse the vendors offering the best in handcrafted jewelry, apparel, accessories, and “well-edited vintage.” Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. San Francisco Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco. ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
Walkway Weekends in Chinatown
Weekends through Dec. Get out your walking shoes and explore the oldest Chinatown in the country when it’s at its most accessible. On weekends, the neighborhood’s popular Grant Avenue is closed to traffic for three blocks allowing locals and visitors to stroll, browse the menagerie of shops and fill up on dumplings and boba at a more leisurely pace. Sa-Su 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Grant Avenue between Washington and California streets. sundaystreetssf.com
Food + Drink
Empress by Boon
Now Open. Come hungry because the new Empress by Boon restaurant serves up a feast for the stomach and the eyes. Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon applies traditional techniques to a modern Cantonese seasonal menu using ingredients from local suppliers and from the restaurant’s own farm in Gilroy. The restaurant just started a new prix fixe menu ($78+) that includes Iberico ham Shanghai xiao long bao; steamed zucchini-prawn dumpling with Australian black truffle; and lotus rice with dried scallop, shrimp and shitake mushrooms. There also is an extensive wine list, cocktail selections and tea service. M-Sa 5-10 p.m. 838 Grant Ave., San Francisco, 415.757.0728. theempresssf.com
Red Window
Now Open. Spanish-inspired bistro Red Window is pairing an inspired tapas and pinxtos menu that has modern twists with a creative “low-proof” cocktail selection that favors flavors over distilled spirits. Small-plates at the 100-seat restaurant in the heart of North Beach can range from crispy meatball croquetas to oxtail marmalade to salt cod fritters, alongside larger tapas plates of queso fundido, gambas and “brothy rice” with squid, shrimp and chorizo. Sip the house Red Window Cobbler cocktail, crafted with a sherry blend, tangelo cordial, peach, fig, angostura and black walnut. W-Th 5-10 p.m.; F-Sa noon-11 p.m.; Su noon-8 p.m. 500 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, 415.757.0600. theredwindow.com
Arts + Culture
Free Entry for Locals at de Young
Every Saturday. If you appreciate experiencing fine art and saving money, mark your calendar for the de Young Museum’s free-entry day for locals. Residents of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area enjoy free general admission to the permanent collection and galleries on Saturdays (special exhibits still require the full admission price). Visitors ages 17 and under always get free admission to the permanent collection galleries. Get timed-entry tickets in advance online. Sa 9:30 a.m. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415.750.3600. deyoung.famsf.org
Nihonmachi Street Fair
Aug. 7-8. After being cancelled for the first time in 2020, Japantown’s Nihonmachi Street Fair is back. The fair, a celebration of Asian and Pacific islander culture in the Bay Area, will feature live entertainment, cultural performances, informational exhibits and booths with organizations that serve the community. Unlike previous years there won’t be a food fest, mostly to encourage attendees to support the local Japantown restaurant scene. Sa-Su 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Japantown Peace Plaza, Post Street from Webster to Laguna, San Francisco, 415.771.9861. nihonmachistreetfair.org
Walt Disney Studios and World War II Exhibit
Through Jan. 10. Bring the whole family to the Disney Family Museum’s Walt Disney Studios and World War II, a historical and personal look at the role of the animation giant during wartime. The special exhibition illustrates the studio’s efforts producing training, propaganda, entertainment, and public-service films, publicity and print campaigns, as well as more than 1,200 insignia. Th-Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m. See website for ticketed events. Diane Disney Miller Exhibition Hall, 122 Riley Ave. (behind the museum) in the Presidio, San Francisco, 415.345.6800. waltdisney.org
Photo credits: Chase Center by Jason O’Rear. Ferry Building by Nat Cody. Chinatown by Spud Hilton. Red Window by Marc Fiorito. de Young Museum by Gregory Bertolini. All other images are courtesy of the venues.
