FRIDAY
Mystery novelist: Author Louise Penny talks about “The Beautiful Mystery,” her latest Chief Inspector Gamache novel. [7 p.m., Kepler’s Books and Magazines, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
SATURDAY
A great bike ride
Family biking classes: Back-to-school season is a great time to start building a bike-to-school habit. Join the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for a free three-part Family Biking Class series. Learn best practices for biking while pregnant, biking with your toddler and biking your child to school. [9 and 10:15 a.m. at Oakside Cafe, 1195 Oak St., and noon in Panhandle Park, west of Masonic Avenue, S.F.; RSVP at www.sfbike.org/family_class]
Dance
Dance salon: Rawdance presents the 12th installation of its “Concept” series, an informal and intimate salon featuring veteran and emerging talent from the local contemporary-dance world. [8 p.m., 66 Sanchez Studio, 66 Sanchez St., S.F.]
Theater
Improvised 007: BATS Improv’s Summer Improv Festival presents “Bond, Improvised Bond.” Performers battle evil, save the world and still dress smartly for dinner. [8 p.m., Bayfront Theater, Building B, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, S.F.]
Bard in the park: The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival presents its 2012 Free Shakespeare in the Park show, “Henry V.” [2 p.m., Presidio Main Post Parade Ground lawn, between Graham Street and Keyes Avenue, S.F.]
Fairs
Art and wine: The Millbrae Art and Wine Festival features crafts, music and green products along with food, wine and beer. More than 250 artisans take part. [10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Broadway between Victoria Avenue and Meadow Glen, Millbrae]
SUNDAY
Fort Mason Farmers Market top picks
- Black Mission figs
- Brown Turkey figs
- Crenshaw melon
- Galia melon
- Honeydew
- Padron peppers
- Pluots
- Watermelon
— www.fortmason.org
Theater
Musical theater: Hillbarn Theatre presents “Ragtime,” the Tony-winning musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel about the turn-of-the-century lives of three American families. [2 p.m., 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City]
Solo performance: Writer, performer and nurse Alison Whittaker presents “Vital Signs,” her multicharacter solo show about on-the-job life in a hospital in wildly diverse San Francisco. [7 p.m., The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., S.F.]
A great excursion
‘Small Wonder’: California’s oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods, is a granddaddy, making it all the more sweet that nestled in its nape is 534-acre Little Basin, the newest state park, formerly a private retreat. This summer marks Little Basin’s opening to the general public, including access to 12 log cabins and 38 tent sites — ideal for camping amid towering redwoods. [Visit WeekendSherpa.com to sign up for email about getting outdoors in Northern California]
