What’s Going On This Weekend In San Francisco

Celebrated satirist Will Durst has performed for three elected presidents (if you count Al Gore ... which Durst does) and appeared as a commentator on CNN, NPR and C-SPAN. Now, he's headed back to The... [more+]

Celebrated satirist Will Durst has performed for three elected presidents (if you count Al Gore ... which Durst does) and appeared as a commentator on CNN, NPR and C-SPAN. Now, he's headed back to The Marsh in San Francisco with "The Durst Case Scenario: Midterm Madness", his up-to-the-minute, lightning-paced comedic exploration of a changing America during the "Time of Trump." Hailed as "[q]uite possibly the best political comedian working in the country today" by none other than "The New York Times", Durst's cutting-edge commentary is pulled from the latest political headlines, and is always as timely and as irreverent as the president's latest 4:00 a.m. tweet. [less-]

Blue & Gold Fleet's "Escape From the Rock" Cruise is an exciting 90-minute excursion that takes you around the perimeter of Alcatraz to view the island from every angle. As the ship sails, passengers ... [more+]

Blue & Gold Fleet's "Escape From the Rock" Cruise is an exciting 90-minute excursion that takes you around the perimeter of Alcatraz to view the island from every angle. As the ship sails, passengers are treated to a presentation complete with sound effects and chilling tales of inmates Al Capone and Billy Cook, not to mention Clyde Johnson's daring escape attempt. This historical yet entertaining boat trip does not stop at the island of Alcatraz itself, but it does evoke the days when this iconic maximum-security prison was the most feared institution in the American penal system. [less-]

Whether you want to kick off a fabulous date night or wrap up an enjoyable afternoon, this two-hour sunset sail is just the ticket. Step aboard the gorgeous traditional vessel called the Privateer to ... [more+]

Whether you want to kick off a fabulous date night or wrap up an enjoyable afternoon, this two-hour sunset sail is just the ticket. Step aboard the gorgeous traditional vessel called the Privateer to take in the sights at the most bewitching time of day. You'll sail past Alcatraz, hug the coast at Sausalito and experience the full grandeur of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sip two servings of your choice of included beer, wine, soda or water as Privateer cruises along the spectacular San Francisco cityscape, while the sun sets and the lights of the city come to twinkling life. [less-]

Get the most out of the Halloween/pumpkin spice latte season with the Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch, your family's one-stop shop for everything that's awesome about fall. Take a hayride or cow train throug... [more+]

Get the most out of the Halloween/pumpkin spice latte season with the Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch, your family's one-stop shop for everything that's awesome about fall. Take a hayride or cow train through 10 acres of pumpkin patch (featuring 45 different varieties of pumpkins) to pick out your perfect future jack-o-lantern. Then weave your way through Sonoma County 's largest 8-acre corn maze. Other exciting attractions include Pumpkin Blasters, tic-tac-toe, cornhole, John Deere pedal trike races, a 24-ft inflatable slide and Barnyard Ballzone, where you can show off your football/baseball/basketball skills. There are also farm animals to be petted, plenty of caramel apples and kettle corn to be eaten, and tons of fun to be had at the Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch. [less-]

Combining great Japanese cuisine and live music, Yoshi's Oakland has quickly become one of the world's most respected venues for jazz, rock, blues and more. What started as a small sushi bar has bloss... [more+]

Combining great Japanese cuisine and live music, Yoshi's Oakland has quickly become one of the world's most respected venues for jazz, rock, blues and more. What started as a small sushi bar has blossomed into an award-winning live performance venue with a state-of-the-art sound system and design, occupying 17,000 square feet in the heart of Oakland's Jack London Square. Yoshi's Oakland has hosted such legendary jazz greats as Betty Carter, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Diana Krall, Branford Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, Harry Connick Jr., Oscar Peterson and hundreds of others, and has also expanded its focus to present a variety of musical genres -- and even popular comedians. [less-]

Forget the usual dinner-and-a-movie and head out for a night of laughs instead. Punch Line Comedy Club, San Francisco's longest-running stand-up venue, presents Comedy Allstars, featuring a rotating l... [more+]

Forget the usual dinner-and-a-movie and head out for a night of laughs instead. Punch Line Comedy Club, San Francisco's longest-running stand-up venue, presents Comedy Allstars, featuring a rotating lineup of hilarious stand-up comics from the Bay Area and beyond, including top local headliners to up-and-coming stars and comedians with national TV credits. With stars such as Robin Williams, Ellen Degeneres, Rosie O'Donnell, Drew Carey, Chris Rock and more having cut their comedy teeth at the Punch Line, you never know when you're going to see the next big name in comedy. [less-]

"The Resting Place" is a provocative and intense look at an American family in a cloudburst of crisis. Filled with raw humor, piercing darkness and fierce love, this new play from Ashlin Halfnight add... [more+]

"The Resting Place" is a provocative and intense look at an American family in a cloudburst of crisis. Filled with raw humor, piercing darkness and fierce love, this new play from Ashlin Halfnight addresses familial obligation, guilt and our own complacency and culpability in wrongdoing, asking: How do we reconcile our love for someone with the knowledge of their horrifying transgression? Catch the world premiere of "The Resting Place" at San Francisco's Magic Theatre. [less-]

For a relaxing afternoon on the water, hop aboard the Privateer, a truly traditional sailboat, for a semi-private 90-minute cruise of the bay, complete with included beer and wine. This double-masted,... [more+]

For a relaxing afternoon on the water, hop aboard the Privateer, a truly traditional sailboat, for a semi-private 90-minute cruise of the bay, complete with included beer and wine. This double-masted, teak-decked, bronze-fitted beauty holds no more than 28 passengers, so you'll get plenty of personal attention from the skilled and friendly crew as the Privateer glides over to Alcatraz and Angel Island, passes by charming and picturesque Sausalito, parallels the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge and sails past the famous San Francisco skyline on its way back to the pier. [less-]

In Other Words is a collaboration among four professional singers Jennifer Ashworth, soprano; Lauren Carley, contralto; Kevin Baum, tenor; and James Monios, bass who have performed in various esteemed... [more+]

In Other Words is a collaboration among four professional singers Jennifer Ashworth, soprano; Lauren Carley, contralto; Kevin Baum, tenor; and James Monios, bass who have performed in various esteemed ensembles such as the Berkeley and Pocket Operas, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Chorale, Clerestory and San Francisco Opera Chorus, to name a few. Their repertoire traverses medieval to modern, sacred and secular, as well as well as traditional and popular. This is a not-to-be-missed evening of a cappella quartet singing from medieval, classical, jazz, jive and American popular song at the Berkeley City Club. [less-]

Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, "Sweat" is the scorching new play from Lynn Nottage ("Ruined") that "The New York Times" called "keenly observed and surprisingly funny ... throbs with hea... [more+]

Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, "Sweat" is the scorching new play from Lynn Nottage ("Ruined") that "The New York Times" called "keenly observed and surprisingly funny ... throbs with heartfelt life. " In the industrial town of Reading, Pennsylvania, a group of friends spend their days on the factory floor and their nights sharing drinks, secrets and laughs. But then layoffs and picket lines begin to erode their trust, and they find themselves pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight for self-preservation. Based on Nottage's extensive research and interviews with residents of Reading and arriving at A.C.T. in San Francisco after a heralded Broadway run, "Sweat" is a searing reflection of America's economic decline. [less-]

Nestled in the heart of Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences boasts some pretty impressive credentials: This San Francisco landmark is the only place on Earth that houses an aquarium, ... [more+]

Nestled in the heart of Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences boasts some pretty impressive credentials: This San Francisco landmark is the only place on Earth that houses an aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum, all under one living roof. Your general admission pass lets you get up close and personal with hundreds of free-flying tropical birds and butterflies inside the four-story living rainforest and gives you access to the award-winning, galaxy-spanning digital shows in the Morrison Planetarium. Animal-lovers can feast their eyes on an albino alligator, a colony of feisty African penguins, and more than 38,000 other live animals in the Steinhart Aquarium. In the new exhibit, "Giants of Land and Sea", you can explore Northern California's natural wonders through a variety of experiences: Feel your way through an immersive fog room, keep your balance in an earthquake simulator, virtually ascend to the top of a towering redwood, and see a variety of specimens and fossils. You can learn about everything from meteors to minerals to mankind's evolution ... and that's all "before" you make your way up to the rolling hills and fields on the rooftop. [less-]

An innocuous comment at a dinner of two interracial couples leads to a surreal escalation of Cold War-style paranoia. "You Mean to Do Me Harm" is a psychological exploration of Chinese and American fo... [more+]

An innocuous comment at a dinner of two interracial couples leads to a surreal escalation of Cold War-style paranoia. "You Mean to Do Me Harm" is a psychological exploration of Chinese and American foreign relations, and of the personal relations we hold most dear. Originally produced as part of last season's Sandbox series, this captivating new play closely examines the different perceptions we operate under and the difficulty of setting our own boundaries. See the world premiere of this "master craftsmanship of local playwright Christopher Chen" at the San Francisco Playhouse. [less-]

Enjoy a two-hour tour of San Francisco Bay, highlighted by romantic sunset views, live guitar music and a light appetizer buffet including sandwiches, fruit and cheese. You'll view the city's stunning... [more+]

Enjoy a two-hour tour of San Francisco Bay, highlighted by romantic sunset views, live guitar music and a light appetizer buffet including sandwiches, fruit and cheese. You'll view the city's stunning skyline featuring Coit Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid, along with historic landmarks and the natural beauty of the Bay Area. This scenic cruise sails by Alcatraz and Angel Island National Park, under the Golden Gate Bridge and along the gorgeous Tiburon, Belvedere and Sausalito shores. One drink is included (alcoholic or nonalcoholic), and more drinks and snacks are available for purchase at the full on-board bar. [less-]

From the top-quality live musical guests to its exceptional Southern cuisine, Biscuits & Blues is the perfect San Francisco spot to enjoy a night of down-home entertainment nearly every night of the w... [more+]

From the top-quality live musical guests to its exceptional Southern cuisine, Biscuits & Blues is the perfect San Francisco spot to enjoy a night of down-home entertainment nearly every night of the week. Located in the heart of the theater district, this intimate venue hosts the best regional and national blues and jazz acts in a comfortable, close-up setting that's open to all ages. Voted America's No. 1 blues nightclub by The Blues Foundation and the Bay Area Blues Society, it's also known for serving up some of the best fried chicken in the entire region, not to mention California wines, microbrews and specialty cocktails. [less-]

This Red and White Fleet Cruise launched in 1939 as part of the Golden Gate International Exposition, and it's still entertaining visitors and locals alike more than 70 years later. After departing fr... [more+]

This Red and White Fleet Cruise launched in 1939 as part of the Golden Gate International Exposition, and it's still entertaining visitors and locals alike more than 70 years later. After departing from historic Fisherman's Wharf, the ship sails along San Francisco's breathtaking waterfront, past the city's Maritime National Park, under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, and around notorious Alcatraz Island, cruising by many other exciting sights as well on the one-hour voyage. Take advantage of the personal-headphone audio, available in 16 languages, to learn more about San Francisco's history and world-famous landmarks, while enjoying a full onboard bar with drinks, snacks and more. [less-]

"Time Out New York" raved, it's "a thrilling, gender-flipped slice of Manifest Destiny." This subversive tale of 10 men, four boats and two rivers contains none of the above. Pack your gear for this 2... [more+]

"Time Out New York" raved, it's "a thrilling, gender-flipped slice of Manifest Destiny." This subversive tale of 10 men, four boats and two rivers contains none of the above. Pack your gear for this 21st-century telling of 19th-century American explorer and one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell, who assembles a brawny band of soldiers, trappers and adventurers to explore the waterways of the American West. Inspired by Powell's actual travel log from 1869, Jaclyn Backhaus's nimble and ingenious script is provocative, laugh-out-loud theater, performed by a cast of women who infuse America's historic myths of male conquest with a sly blast of subtext. Catch "Men on Boats" at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater in San Francisco. [less-]

When it comes to sleek, smart and modern magic, look no further than magician David Gerard, who performs his theatrical illusions and mind reading to sold-out audiences in the Bay Area. Join Gerard fo... [more+]

When it comes to sleek, smart and modern magic, look no further than magician David Gerard, who performs his theatrical illusions and mind reading to sold-out audiences in the Bay Area. Join Gerard for his first shows written exclusively for PianoFight in San Francisco, where you'll witness near-impossible mental and physical feats just inches away from your seat. Through a mix of psychology, misdirection, magic and showmanship, Gerard will create an experience you'll remember long after the show is over. [less-]

Celebrate the impressive San Francisco Bay Bridge and its history -- which spans over 75 years -- by embarking on this 90-minute cruise that sails under both the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridges and pa... [more+]

Celebrate the impressive San Francisco Bay Bridge and its history -- which spans over 75 years -- by embarking on this 90-minute cruise that sails under both the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridges and passes by Alcatraz Island. Discover San Francisco history and landmarks via narrated headset audio in 16 available languages, which includes information about the city's natural history, architecture, Native American culture, and, of course, the building of the famous bridges. It's a stunning and informative way to experience the breathtaking views of the downtown skyline and its historic waterfront. [less-]

Both irreverent and surprisingly sentimental, "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" is the classic country-western musical comedy based on the strange-but-true story of the real-life Chicken Ranch bro... [more+]

Both irreverent and surprisingly sentimental, "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" is the classic country-western musical comedy based on the strange-but-true story of the real-life Chicken Ranch brothel. Protected by a friendly sheriff and frequented by governors, senators, mayors and even victorious college football teams, Miss Mona's cozy bordello thrives in the small town of Gilbert -- until a puritan nemesis in the guise of a crusading do-gooder focuses his television cameras and his righteous indignation on the institution and tries to shut it down. Nominated for a passel of Tonys in its original '79 Broadway run and turned into a hit film starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton, this latest production comes to the Gateway Theatre in San Francisco, courtesy of 42nd Street Moon. [less-]

Laugh at a mix of longtime favorites and up-and-coming comedians at "#HellaFunny", San Francisco's hilarious traveling comedy show. "#HellaFunny" began at the legendary Purple Onion club in 2010 in th... [more+]

Laugh at a mix of longtime favorites and up-and-coming comedians at "#HellaFunny", San Francisco's hilarious traveling comedy show. "#HellaFunny" began at the legendary Purple Onion club in 2010 in the North Beach neighborhood, and now carries the fun to venues all over the Bay Area. For this show, Viceland's Stroy Moyd takes the stage at Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco. The three-time winner of the Laugh Factory Hollywood's Fresh Faces Comedy Competition has opened for hotshots like Dave Chapelle, Hannibal Buress and others that have also cracked a couple jokes at this venue themselves. [less-]