Good Weekend for Oct. 31-Nov. 2

There's plenty of fun to be had this Halloween in The City and on the Peninsula. (AP)

What to do this Halloween and the rest of the weekend.

Friday night

Ghoulish improv: True Fiction Magazine, an improv-theater troupe, presents its Halloween show. Using a single suggestion, the group creates intersecting stories. [8 p.m., Bayfront Theater, Building B, Fort Mason Center, S.F.]

Shadow theater: “The Metamorphosis of Karaghiozis,” a performance of Greek storytelling and shadow puppetry performed by Leonidas Kassapides, with live music, comes to Union Square. [8 p.m., Powell and Post streets, S.F.]

Creepy park: Park rangers lead thrill-seekers on “The Haunted Presidio: Halloween Night Walk,’’ a milelong jaunt with spine-tingling stories of the Presidio’s history. [6 to 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Boulevard and Funston Avenue, , S.F., (415) 561-4323, www.crissyfield.org]

‘Halloween Goblins, Ghouls and Ghosts’: The Wax Museum hosts this 21-and-over Halloween dance party. [7:30 p.m. to midnight, Pier 47, S.F., (415) 202-0402, www.fishermanswharf.org]

De Young bash: Friday Nights at the Young presents “Things That Go Thump in the Night,” a costume party featuring break dancing, live painting and live music by Shing02. [5 to 8:45 p.m., de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, S.F.]

Scary science: The Exploratorium hosts “Phantasmagorium,” a fright-night exploring the cultural and scientific phenomena behind Halloween, Dia de los Muertos and death. [6 to 9 p.m., 3601 Lyon St., S.F.]

‘Haunted Haight’: Walking Tour highlights the macabre elements of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood’s history. [7 p.m.; meet at Coffee to the People, 1206 Masonic Ave., S.F.; R.S.V.P. to www.hauntedhaight.com]

Skate date: California Outdoor Rollersports Association presents its “Halloween Friday Night Skate,” a 10-mile skate tour and party. Costumes are encouraged. [9 to 11:30 p.m.; meet in front of the Ferry Building, S.F.]

Haunted cabaret: Teatro ZinZanni hosts “Teatro ZinZombie: A Macabre Ball.” The evening includes entertainment, special drinks, a gourmet meal, face painting and a costume parade. [6:30 p.m., Pier 29, S.F.]

Halloween Happenings: Bring family and friends for a ghoulishly good time with costume contests, games, prizes and a haunted castle ($1) at King Center. [6 to 8 p.m., 750 Monte Diablo Ave., San Mateo; (650) 522-7470]

Halloween Spooktacular: Trick-or-treating in the mall from 5 to 6 p.m. for costumed children ages 12 and under; Halloween entertainment from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with Magic of Chin Chin, comedian magician Timothy James, Boswick the Clown, balloon twisting, pumpkin decorating and a slime booth. [Hillsdale Shopping Center, 60 31st Ave., San Mateo]

Halloween Concert: Performed by Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble with guest multi-instrumentalist Daniel Ho. [8 p.m., Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 471 Lagunita, Stanford University campus; tickets $5 to $10; (650) 725-2787]

Halloween Spook Parade: Come in costume to win prizes. [3 to 6 p.m., Serramonte Shopping Center, Daly City]

Halloween Fun Carnival: The fun includes carnival games, a digital photograph and scary craft fun for kids, sponsored by city Parks and Recreation. [6 to 9 p.m., Twin Pines Senior and Community Center, Belmont; tickets $5 to $10; (650) 595-7441]

Halloween Costume Party: [9 p.m. to midnight, Mullins Bar & Grill, Half Moon Bay Golf Links, 2 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay; (650) 726-6384]

Halloween Costume Party: Featuring The Mama Pacho Band playing at Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. [7 to 10 p.m., 390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay; (650) 728-2739]

Gettin' down: Destroyer, Generation Swine and Terry Lauderdale Band perform at Little Fox. [8 p.m., 2209 Broadway, Redwood City; tickets $14; (650) 369-4119]

MUVES-Fall Dance Showcase: Enjoy a Halloween dance production complete with Dracula, monsters, witches and a haunted Ralston Mansion waltz; come in costume. [7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, Notre Dame de Namur University Theater, 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont; tickets $10; (650) 508-3456]

Saturday

TAKE A HIKE
Angel Island is once again open for visitors.

Though areas that were burned and most hiking trails are off-limits, this is a great time to visit, with fewer crowds, superb fall weather and almost half the island untouched by the wildfire. Autumn biking is always brilliant on Angel Island, and a pedal around the park is especially poignant now. Bring your two-wheeler or rent one at Ayala Cove ($10/hour or $35/day).

The 5-mile, mostly paved Perimeter Road (some patches are a bit gravelly) roams from the cove past sweet-scented eucalyptus forests and historic military buildings that were saved from the fire. Rolling toward the southern part of the island, you’ll catch the unmistakable smell left from the blaze; you’ll see the fire-scorched moonscape just past Battery Ledyard as far as Fort McDowell.

This two-wheel perimeter survey offers some of the Bay’s most spectacular viewpoints; you can even score a rare double-bridge sighting of the Golden Gate and Bay bridges in full form. And it shows nature at its rawest: beauty, fragility and resilience.

Visit WeekendSherpa.com, a San Francisco-based free e-mail newsletter and Web site about outdoor activities in the Bay Area, to find detailed directions.

Primate talk: The Leakey Foundation holds its Leakey Prize Public Forum for Primatology and Scientific Roundtable. Twenty top minds from the world science community speak. [9 a.m., Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, S.F.]

Crime fiction: Sisters in Crime hold their “Fall Soiree.” Crime novelists Claire Johnson, Camille Minichino, Terri Micene, Kelly Stanley and Michelle Gagnon take part. [2 p.m., Books Inc., 601 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

San Francisco Jazz Festival: Cuba-born trumpeter Arturo Sandoval performs. His music has explored various aspects of Cuban music, modern jazz and a synthesis of the two traditions. [8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Early music: Voices of Music, specializing in Renaissance and Baroque fare, presents “Capriccio Stravagante,” a concert of virtuoso violin pieces. [8 p.m., St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell St.]

Restored gem: John Cassavetes’ “Shadows” (1959) screens with a restored print. The film is regarded as the start of the American independent-cinema movement. [7:30 p.m., Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F.]

Unusual shorts: The Exploratorium hosts “Between Body and Soul,” a post-Halloween program of two short films by Barbara Hammer and Jan Svankmajer, notables in surreal and experimental cinema. [2 p.m., 3601 Lyon St., S.F.]

Stand-up comic: Comedian Sean Rouse performs a stand-up show. NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” are among his credits. [8 and 10 p.m., Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery St., S.F.]

Cartoonist presentation: Award-winning political cartoonist Khalil Bendib presents a monologue and slide show, and discusses the role of the media in politics. [11:30 a.m., Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Latino/Hispanic Room, S.F.]

Dia de los Muertos: A free Annual Day of the Dead cultural celebration with a procession, school mural project, community altar display, food vendors, hands on arts, skull-cookie decorating, live music, and Aztec and Los Viejos Dancers, in observance of the Mexican holiday. [5 to 8 p.m., Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City]

Talent Show at Tanforan: A children’s talent show hosted by Bay Area Parent Magazine with singers, dancers, actors and comedians; for contestants up to 17 years old to show off their talent and win prizes. [1 to 3 p.m., Tanforan Shopping Mall, El Camino Real, San Bruno]

Health and Fun Faire: Foster City Athletic Club presents an open house with demos, free samples and prizes. [11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1159 Chess Drive, Foster City; (650) 377-1991]

Bill Pronzini: Meet the author at the signing of “The Other Side of Silence.” [1 p.m., “M” is for Mystery bookstore, 86 E. Third Ave., San Mateo; (650) 401-8077]

Molly’s Revenge: The four musicians of Molly’s Revenge play highland bagpipes, whistles, flutes, guitars and bouzoukis in their Celtic Series; Celtic jigs and reels will have your feet tapping and hands clapping. [7:30 p.m., Pacific Performances, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica; tickets $20; (650) 355-1882]

Daniel Ho & Friends: Grammy winner plays his fusion of Hawaiian aesthetic, alternative folk and jazz with his band Kilauea. [8 p.m., Campbell Recital Hall, 541 Lasuen Mall, Stanford University campus; tickets $20-$5; (650) 725-2787]

Erica Lee: Performs classic rock and originals at Sam’s Chowder House. [4 to 8 p.m., 4210 N. Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay; (650) 712-0245]

‘Dead Man Walking’: Students from Burlingame, Belmont’s Notre Dame and Junipero Serra high schools perform the story of a nun’s emotional journey with a death-row inmate. [7:30 p.m., Gellert Auditorium, 451 W. 20th Ave., San Mateo; tickets $12 at the door; (650) 345-8207, ext. 560]

Sunday

A GREAT BIKE RIDE

Start: Lincoln Boulevard and Merchant Road, the Presidio, south of the Golden Gate Bridge
Route: Ride south on Ralston (fork left off Lincoln), right on Green, right on Kobbe, left on Harrison, left on Washington, merge onto Arguello, follow Arguello to Golden Gate Park, left on Conservatory, right on JFK.
Stop and check out: Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio vista points on Washington and Arguello

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, sfbike.org

Procession and festival: The 2008 Dia de los Muertos procession takes place in the Mission district, ending at the Festival of Altars. [7 p.m., 24th and Bryant streets; festival at Garfield Park, 26th and Harrison streets, S.F.]

Symphony concert: The San Francisco Symphony presents its “Dia de los Muertos Family Concert,” celebrating the music of Hispanic cultures. Preshow festivities include an altar exhibit and dancers. [2 p.m., Davies Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Art reception: The Mission Cultural Center hosts a celebration for “Death Without Borders,” its Dia de los Muertos exhibit of altars. Entertainment, crafts and sugar skulls also are on the bill. [6 to 11 p.m., 2868 Mission St., S.F.]

Animator talk: Award-winning animator Richard Williams discusses the principles of animation and illustrates them with excerpts from his new DVD set. Proceeds benefit ASIFA-SF. [7 p.m., Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa St., S.F.]

Composer showcase: The S.F. Contemporary Players perform and discuss “Lumien,” an unconventional composition by Elliott Carter, who turns 100 this year. [4:30 p.m., ODC Dance Commons, 351 Shotwell St.]

Operatic personalities: The S.F. Opera presents “Boris Godunov.” An “Opera on the Couch” talk, in which local psychoanalysts discuss the opera’s characters, follows. [2 p.m., War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Shipyard artists: ArtSpan’s Open Studios festival concludes. The public can visit artists working at the Hunters Point Shipyard. A benefit art auction takes place. [11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; www.artspan.org]

Rob Kapilow: What Makes It Great? The conductor, composer and NPR radio commentator explores Tschaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings” with support from Stanford Chamber Strings. [2:30 p.m., Kresge Auditorium, 555 Nathan Abott Way, Stanford University campus; tickets $19 to $38; (650) 725-2787]

Piano Marathon: Presented by Crestmont Conservatory of Music students to benefit their music programs. [Noon to 8:30 p.m., 2575 Flores St., San Mateo; tickets $20; (650) 574-4633]

Phil Markowitz Trio: Pianist Phil Markowitz, drummer Adam Nussbaum and bassist Jay Anderson bring lyrical expressions to Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society. [4:30 p.m., 311 Mirada Road, Miramar Beach, Half Moon Bay, tickets $30]

Paris Piano Trio: Former prize-winning students at the Paris Conservatoire, where they are currently professors, perform musical scores from Faure, Schumann and Mendelssohn. [7 p.m., Kohl Mansion, 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame; tickets $11 to $19; (650) 762-1130]

‘Radio Golf’: Closing of the political drama set in a neglected Pittsburgh neighborhood in 1997 about a black man running for mayor. [2 and 7 p.m., TheaterWorks, 500 Castro St., Mountain View; (650) 903-6000]