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Halloween San Francisco

admin — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:14:06 +0000

Halloween in San Francisco is one of the craziest days in an already unique city. Halloween 2012 will be no exception. There are so many options for spooky fun, whether it’s partying with friends or taking your little ones trick or treating. This year, Halloween falls on a Wednesday, so there will be some fun haunted activities throughout the weekend prior. For grown-ups, throw on your favorite costume and register for the World Famous Halloween Pub Crawl San Francisco Edition at Bar None. The address is 1980 Union Street #4. You’ll get a map of participating bars and nightclubs, which will have deals like $2 draft beers, half-off mixed drinks, and $5 shots. The Pub Crawl is on Friday October 26 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday the 27^th from 3 p.m. to midnight, and Halloween from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. A two-day pass is available.

Another fun option is to dress up as your favorite caped crusader and head to the Halloween Massive Superheroes and Villains Halloween Extravaganza on Saturday, October 27. Dance the night away at the Westin San Francisco on Market Street. Early bird general admission is $39, and the most luxurious option is the Super VIP Table with a premium bottle of liquor and mixers is $399. Go to http://www.halloweenmassive.com/ for more information.
Looking for something to do with children? Head to San Francisco’s Japantown Peace Plaza shopping mall on Sunday, October 28 for some sweet old-fashioned trick or treating. From 12 to 4 p.m., little ghosts and goblins are welcome to go from store to store for treats—in costume of course! There will also be a Halloween party and activities like face painting and arts and crafts. Go to http://www.sfjapantown.org/.

ComBots Cup VII

admin — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:30:41 +0000

Combat Robots Sports & Entertainment, also known as ComBots, is a death match among those made of metal and fueled on batteries. Held October 20 and 21, 2012, at the San Mateo Fairgrounds, south of San Francisco, this year’s ComBots is going to be killer. Competition for the ComBots Cup VII boasts a large cash prize. It’s also been deemed one of the Best 10 North American Geek Fests by Wired magazine. ESPN’s popular show Sportscenter also gave it a shout out. As in boxing, there are weight classes for robots—1, 3, 30, 60, 120, and 220 pounds. And you better believe there will be sparks, smoke, and explosions, for these are robot fights to the bitter end. Robot masters from all over the world converge to take part in this magnificent battle. They also get creative with robots that can impale, smash, and roll over the competition, and come up with stage names pro wrestlers would envy like Last Rites, Angry Asp, and Sewer Snake.
ComBots goes from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for youth ages 7 to 17, and free to those 6 and younger. (Be aware that the robot battles get extremely loud and maybe even a little scary, and might not be appropriate for very young children.) A $250 VIP pass includes access to the normally restricted pits where the robots duke it out, and the exclusive VIP party on Friday night, where the builders and bots will be hanging out. If you’re active-duty U.S. military personnel, admission for you and your dependents to ComBots is free. To find out more about ComBots, visit http://combots.net/index.php.

San Francisco Jazz Festival

admin — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:15:12 +0000

The San Francisco Jazz Festival celebrates its 30^th anniversary in 2012. It runs from August 25 through December 7, with an exciting line-up of events at a variety of venues throughout the city. These include Davies Symphony Hall, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) Forum, Florence Gould Theater at the Legion of Honor, and the Swedish American Hall. Grace Cathedral, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Herbst Theatre, and Paramount Theatre are additional venues, as is, the Jazzschool, the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, and the Museum of the African Diaspora. Almost daily, there are concerts scheduled as part of the San Francisco Jazz Festival.
Superstars and celebrities from all over the world take part in the Festival in several different themed series like Jazz Giants, Brilliance from Brazil, and SF JAZZ High School All-Stars. As part of the Happenings series, on October 6, clarinetist Don Byron and the New Gospel Quintet will perform at 8 p.m., at the YBCA Forum. From the Pianism series, pianists Barry Harris, Jacky Terrasson, and Alfredo Rodriguez will celebrate the birthday of the master Thelonious Monk with a concert on October 10, at 7:30 p.m., in Herbst Theatre. On October 18, Puerto Rican flavors meet Cuban sizzle when jazz stars, as well as brothers, Jerry and Andy Gonzalez take the stage at Herbst Theatre. Elio Villafranca and Arturo Stable will open for them on piano and percussion instruments. For more information on the San Francisco Jazz Festival, visit http://www.sfjazz.org/30th-anniversary-san-francisco-jazz-festival.

Northern California Renaissance Fair

admin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:10:46 +0000

The Northern California Renaissance Faire brings the fantasy of another time and place to life. “Patrons,” as participants are called, are encouraged to dress up in costumes that reflect the time of the historic Renaissance. The actual Renaissance was a cultural evolution that took place over several centuries, starting in Florence, Italy in the 1300s. Patrons, entertainers, and vendors all love this time period, when creativity reigned.
The annual Bay Area festival in Hollister, California, is about 2 hours from San Francisco, east of Gilroy. It takes place on weekends for about a month from mid-September through October 14, 2012. At the Renaissance Faire, Casa de Fruta, an orchard, is transformed into the village of Willingtown. In the “Towne Centre,” patrons will find the Market Faire and entertainment in the form of fiddlers, drummers, and bag pipers—some adding their own modern sensibilities. At 12 p.m., be sure to catch the World Tournament of Champions Joust, and the Queen’s Royal Joust at 3 p.m. Both feature knights on horseback vying to be the most chivalrous. Of course, there are victuals, libations, and sundries to purchase, as well as costumes for rent, in case your garb isn’t Renaissance enough. Each weekend boasts a different theme as well. October 6 and 7 is Oktoberfest, and October 13 and 14 is the theme of Fantasy, so be on the lookout for fairies and other magical creatures. For more information on the Northern California Renaissance Faire, visit http://www.norcalrenfaire.com/

Halloween in San Francisco

admin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:38:15 +0000

Halloween in San Francisco can be exciting and fun, with so many spooky options for both kids and adults to enjoy. From Trick-or-Treating in local neighborhoods to haunted and ghostly kids events and adults-only Halloween celebrations, San Francisco is the perfect place to party this Halloween. Take a Ghost Walk at City Hall, enjoy scary stories and live music at the Asian Art Museum, spend Halloween with the animals at the San Francisco Zoo, get in the action at the Halloween costume walk at the Children’s Garden, explore the creepy world of insects and Trick-or-Treat at the California Academy of Sciences, or take the little ones to the Family Halloween Fest at the Randall Museum where kiddies and adults can carve pumpkins, enjoy ghoulish games and try some scary treats. Adults can enjoy a range of Halloween parties and events – from the mellow to the bizarre – including a horror film festival, live theatre performances, the popular Cirque du Freak dance party, and a multitude of events held in San Francisco’s famous Castro district. http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/sfevents/a/Halloween-In-San-Francisco-San-Francisco-Halloween-Events-And-Activities.htm

Oktoberfest by the Bay

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:36:54 +0000

Join the United German American Societies (UGAS) for three days of Oktoberfest celebrations at Pier 48, with cultural presentations, live music and food. This year’s Oktoberfest by the Bay celebration runs from Friday, Sept. 28^th through Sunday, Sept. 30^th, and commemorates the 123^rd anniversary of German Day in San Francisco. Visitors are invited to help celebrate this milestone by enjoying live musical presentations, traditional Bavarian dancing, singing along to German drinking songs, eating authentic German sausages and other food, and drinking plenty of German beer. The renowned Chico Bavarian Band will headline the festival’s musical lineup and visitors can enjoy a variety of delicious food items and beer for $3-$12 each.

General admission tickets for Oktoberfest by the Bay are $25. VIP tickets are $75 and include a German food buffet, a commemorative beer mug, one beer, and VIP seating. Oktoberfest by the Bay is a three-day event that welcomes children only during Saturday daytime hours and on Sunday. Children’s tickets (ages 13-18) are $5, and children under age 12 enter free. Tickets do sell out for this popular event, so purchasing advanced tickets online is recommended. Discount tickets are available online at www.oktoberfestbythebay.com.

Japanese Tea Garden

admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:35:39 +0000

Constructed in 1894 for the California Midwinter International Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is a popular visitor attraction that features traditional elements and a classical Japanese gardening style. Visitors can wander quiet winding pathways that lead to sparkling Koi ponds, brightly colored pagodas, a zen garden, and tall stepping stone bridges throughout the 5-acre garden. A highlight of the garden is the exceptionally arched wooden drum bridge and a huge Buddha statue that was donated to the gardens. Enjoy a cup of jasmine or green tea and traditional Japanese crackers, cookies and other delights at the bamboo tea house, which overlooks a Koi pond and is neatly placed at the center of the Japanese Tea Garden. A gift shop offers a variety of Japanese teas, snacks and souvenirs. The Japanese Tea Garden is open daily from 9am-4:45pm, with extended summer hours. The Tea House is open daily from 9am-4:45pm, with extended summer hours. Admission to the Japanese Tea Garden is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and children over age 12, and $2 for children under age 12. Children under age four enter free. Visitors who enter by 10am on Monday, Wednesday or Friday enter free of charge. www.japaneseteagardensf.com

San Francisco 49ers

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:35:24 +0000

Since 1971, the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers have been playing professional football at Candlestick Park stadium in scenic San Francisco, California. Founded as an NFL charter member team in 1946, the five-time, Super Bowl championship winning 49ers are a popular Bay Area team that enjoys a strong following of fans. Visitors can cheer on the San Francisco 49ers or their favorite opposing teams at Candlestick Park, an outdoor stadium situated overlooking the San Francisco Bay on Candlestick Point. In addition to the excitement of live football, the 49ers also feature several pre-game entertainment options, including a Grand Plaza area that features a team store, an outdoor sports bar, gourmet food trucks, and live music before the game.

The 49ers offer a full schedule of pro football games during their regular season, which runs from September through December each year. Single game tickets are available for purchase online or at the gate on game days. Parking at Candlestick can be a challenge and visitors are encouraged to arrive early to secure a parking space in the lot, which offers $30 parking on a first-come, first-served basis. Candlestick Park gates open four hours prior to kick-off to allow for parking time and tailgating opportunities. www.49ers.com

San Francisco Zoo

admin — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:35:22 +0000

In a beautifully wooded expanse next to the Pacific Ocean, the San Francisco Zoo is a haven for wildlife. In addition to housing hundreds of animals from around the world, including rare and endangered species, the San Francisco Zoo features rides and activities for young children, animal encounters such as grizzly bear and giraffe feedings, conservation programs, a park and nature center, souvenir shop and dining. The zoo is divided into themed exhibits including: Primate Discovery Center, Bear Country, Gorilla Preserve, Lion House, Outback Trail, and Children’s Zoo features a nature trail and family farm. Visit the San Francisco Zoo any day of the year when you stay at Crowne Plaza San Francisco International Airport.

30th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival: Aug 25

admin — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:30:39 +0000

Now in its 30^th year, the San Francisco Jazz Festival runs from August 25 through December 7 at select jazz venues throughout San Francisco. Sponsored by SF Jazz, the festival attracts the top names in jazz music, as well as newcomers and rising stars. The 2012 lineup includes such names as Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, Esperanza Spalding, Dianne Reeves, SF Jazz High School All Stars and renowned jazz musicians from Brazil, Cuba, Europe, and Puerto Rico. Tickets to the San Francisco Jazz Festival performances are just $7.50 per person. A series of family-friendly matinee programs is available, as well as educational programs that delve into the history and evolution of jazz music. Time your stay at Crowne Plaza San Francisco International Airport with a world-class performance during the 30^th annual San Francisco Jazz Festival.