Good Weekend: May 16-17
Staff Report
May 16, 2009
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| Unreachable by car, Mount Tam's West Point Inn is a popular pit stop for hikers and mountain bikers. |
FRIDAY, MAY 15
Funny lady: Janeane Garofalo, the comedian, actor, writer and former radio host, performs a comedy show. Topical rants are her specialty. [8 and 10:15 p.m., Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave., S.F.]
Site-specific dance: Lizz Roman and Dancers present “At Play,” a site-specific work created for, and performed in, Dance Mission Theater. [8 and 9:30 p.m., 3316 24th St., S.F.]
Eating
Piqueos, a second restaurant from Mochica’s talented chef/owner, Carlos Altamirano, offers a twist on contemporary Peruvian tapas, which is not traditional, but delicious. [850 Cortland Ave., S.F.; (415) 282-8812; www.piqueos.com]
Drinking
Zinnia: The North Beach bar offers the most awesome Halfsy Hour, where from 5 to 7 you can snag half-priced specialty cocktails and can order half-sized portions of the dinner menu. [500 Jackson St., S.F.; (415) 956-7300, www.zinniasf.com]
SATURDAY, MAY 16
A great city walk
Fairmount Neighborhood Walk: Tour along cottage-dotted streets, see impressive views, a modern architectural showcase and the Poole-Bell Mansion (hear about the Bells & Mary Ellen Pleasant.) Meet at 10 a.m. at the Glen Park Library, 2825 Diamond St.
San Francisco City Guides, a 30 year old nonprofit organization conducting free walking tours spotlighting San Francisco history, architecture, legends and lore, is a program of the San Francisco Public Library. Tours offered seven days a week year round. Visit our web site at www.sfcityguides.org or call 415-557-4266 for more information.
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market top picks
- Lemon balm
- Point Reyes Blue Cheese
- Olive oil
- Cippolini onions
- Poppies
- Cherries
- Globe artichokes
- Brown rice
- Dandelion greens
- Fresh fruit turnovers
Festivals
Wine festival: More than 50 top California wineries take part in the 2009 “Uncorked” festival, which features tastings, chef demos and music. It benefits La Cocina. [1 to 6 p.m., Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point St., S.F.]
Bright side: Optimism is the theme of the Life Is Good Festival, which features a kids’ walk, performances and games. It benefits children in need. [11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, S.F; www.lifeisgood.com]
Visual arts
Glass act: Public Glass hosts “Hot Glass, Cold Beer,” a glass-art celebration and fundraiser. Guests receive a complimentary hand-blown glass and “bottomless beer or wine.” [6 to 10 p.m., 1750 Armstrong Ave., S.F.]
Movies
B-noir fest: “I Wake Up Dreaming,” a festival of b-budget film noir, is under way. “Raw Deal” (1948) and “Railroaded” (1947), directed by Anthony Mann, screen today. [2 to 11 p.m., Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St., S.F.]
Theater
Shadow play: ShadowLight Productions, specializing in Balinese shadow puppetry, presents “Wayang Bali,” an award-winning show whose story has roots in myth. [8 p.m., Yerba Buena Gardens, Third and Mission streets, S.F.]
Comedy
Stand-up show: Actress, writer and comedian Mary Lynn Rajskub performs a comedy show. TV’s “24” and the film “Sunshine Cleaning” are among her credits. [8 and 10 p.m., Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery St., S.F.]
Baseball
Gloves wanted: It’s “Junior Giants Glove Drive” day at the ballpark. The first 5,000 fans who donate a glove (new or used) or $10, receive a Tim Lincecum pin. [1:10 p.m., AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, S.F.]
Music
Chamber music: The Avedis Chamber Music Series presents “Debussy and Friends.” The Stanford Woodwind Quintet, with pianist Matthew Edwards, performs. [2 p.m., Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave., S.F.]
Peninsula
Immigrants Day: The San Mateo County History Museum hosts its Immigrants Day Festival. Look for multicultural performances, food and crafts. [Noon to 5 p.m., Courthouse Square Stage, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City]
SUNDAY, MAY 17
A great bike ride
- Start: Sutro Heights, Point Lobos and 48th avenues
- Route: North on Camino del Mar, right on Clement, left on 30th Ave, right on Lake, follow Lake to Arguello, left and then quick right onto Sacramento, left on Cherry, right on Clay, left on Webster, right on Broadway, left on Polk, right on Pacific (or just carry on through Broadway Tunnel), left on Powell, right on Broadway, across The Embarcadero to the Bay.
- Bike Network: 100 percent (Route 10)
- Complete for bikes: 25 percent
- Stop and check out: Sutro Heights vistas, Alta Plaza Park (steps still chewed from Streisand stunt in “What’s Up Doc?”), Broadway and the Bay, Ferry Building treats
- Time: 30-60 minutes, climbing and coasting
- — San Francisco Bicycle Coalition; sfbike.org http://flickr.com/photos/sfbike/397022442/ http://flickr.com/photos/sfbike/397013592/
Inn-spiration Point
For more than 100 years, people have been making the pilgrimage to West Point Inn, and for good reason. Sitting 1,785 feet high on the southern slope of Mount Tam, the view from the inn is nothing short of spectacular: icons of the San Francisco skyline are fixtures on the horizon, while in the foreground the Marin Headlands roll toward the Pacific. Unreachable by car, the West Point Inn is a popular pit stop for hikers and mountain bikers; its sprawling wooden patio and outdoor picnic area are destination-worthy in their own right. But stay the night in one of the five rustic cabins and you’ll have the place to yourself. As night deepens, read books by candlelight in the lounge, wander outside to gaze at the stars, then plan your hikes for the next day. In the morning, watch the sun rise over Mount Diablo from your private patio as you fill up on breakfast. Then choose your adventure. The inn is situated at a crossroads of multiple trails, making it an ideal launching point for a day of exploring. Embark on a short hike to O’Rourke’s Bench via the Rock Spring Trail (return via Coastal and Matt Davis Trails), or head out for a classic day-hike to Stinson Beach on the Matt Davis, Dipsea and Steep Ravine Trails. Tam-fastic!
For directions and more information on Mount Tam’s West Point Inn, visit WeekendSherpa.com and subscribe to their free weekly e-mail about hiking in the Bay Area.
Footrace
Run for it: Athletics and personality share the spotlight on Bay to Breakers day. Events include the Footstock festival. [Race: 8 a.m., Howard and Beale streets, S.F.; Footstock: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Polo Field, Golden Gate Park, S.F.; www.ingbaytobreakers.com]
Music
World jazz: Cameroonian bassist Richard Bona and Beninese guitarist Lionel Loueke, who have achieved star status in New York, make a West Coast appearance. [7 p.m., Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F.]
Cabaret favorite: Jazz and pop singer, composer, and stage performer Ann Hampton Callaway performs her “At Last” concert. Bay Area Cabaret presents the event. [5 p.m., Marines’ Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter St., S.F.]
Theater
Meet the author: Theatre Rhinoceros presents “Three on a Party,” featuring LGBT stories by Armistead Maupin, Gertrude Stein and Tennessee Williams. Maupin appears in a post-show talk tonight. [7 p.m., 2926 16th St., S.F.]
Culinary arts
Food and wine: Top names in the culinary world come together for the Star Chefs and Vintners Gala. The epicurean extravaganza benefits Meals on Wheels. [5 to 11 p.m., Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, S.F.]
Museums
Last day: “Warhol Live” closes. The exhibition is the first comprehensive exploration of artist Andy Warhol’s work as seen through the lens of music. [9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Golden Gate Park, S.F.]
Peninsula
New novelist: Reif Larsen reads from “The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet,” his debut novel. [3 p.m., “M” Is for Mystery, 86 E. Third Ave., San Mateo]
