FRIDAY
Eating
Food: Chef Randy Lewis’ Criolla Kitchen is a happening cafe in the Castro featuring New Orleans-style soul food — don’t miss the fried chicken and waffles.
Drinking
Wine: Dessert wines from around the world — if they contain enough acidity to balance their sweetness — taste wonderful, not just after, but before and throughout a meal.
On the town
Opera opening: San Francisco Opera begins its season with a performance of Puccini’s “Turandot” among gala festivities. [8 p.m. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Sound art: The San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, continuing through Sunday, showcases electronic musicians and sound artists. Friday’s bill includes Christian Marclay and Shelley Hirsch. [8 p.m., Brava Theater, 2781 24th St., S.F.]
SATURDAY
Festivals
Chinatown celebration: The two-day Autumn Moon Festival begins. The Chinese community festivities include crafts, food, entertainment and a parade. [11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Grant Avenue from California Street to Broadway, S.F.]
Choco-mania: The Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival, showcasing local chocolatiers, features chocolate tastings, chef demos and sundae-eating contests. It benefits Project Open Hand. [Noon to 5 p.m., 900 North Point St., S.F.]
Music festival: The Mission Creek Music and Arts Festival presents a day of free music in McLaren Park. Featured acts include Spindrift, Actually and others.[11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mansell Street and John F. Shelley Drive, S.F.]
Italian celebration: The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club hosts its 2011 Festa Coloniale Italiana, an Italian cultural celebration with food, wine, music and vendors. [11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1630 Stockton St. and thereabouts, S.F.]
Art
Rare treasures: The San Mateo Antiques Show features fine art, furniture, jewelry and other vintage collectibles on view and for sale. [11 a.m. to 7 p.m. San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo]
Movies
Outdoor movie: Film Night in the Park presents “Dr. Strangelove.” A crazed general orders a nuclear attack on the USSR in Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War satire. [8 p.m., Washington Square, Union and Stockton streets, S.F.]
SUNDAY
Music
Outdoor opera: San Francisco Opera’s “Opera in the Park” includes a civic observance commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The concert includes the Requiem in D minor by Mozart. [2 p.m., Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park, S.F.]
Dance
New choreography: CounterPULSE artists-in-residence FACT/SF and Lenora Lee Dance present new work. [8 p.m., CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission St., S.F.]
Comedy
Funny folk songs: Garfunkel and Oates — actress-songwriters Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome — perform. [8 p.m., Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave., S.F.]
Theater
Improvised Jane: Impro Theatre presents “Jane Austen Unscripted,” an improvised play created in the spirit of a Jane Austen novel. [2 p.m., Bayfront Theater, Building B, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, S.F.]
A great bike ride
Sunday Streets: Lovers of the outdoors are invited to enjoy biking, other activities and general camaraderie on San Francisco streets without cars in and around the Western Addition — from the Panhandle to Jefferson Square and Japantown’s Peace Plaza. [11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; www.sundaystreetssf.com]
