With an endless list of attractions in and around San Francisco, it can be hard to figure out where to turn next! We’ve narrowed it down for you in this list of new, must-see events and places to attend this spring.
Sports
The baseball season began in late March and will end in October; what better way to celebrate than by cheering on the San Francisco Giants at their home field, AT&T Park? Alternately, commemorate the Oakland Athletics’ 50th year in Oakland by rooting for the A’s at the Coliseum.
As baseball season amps up, basketball season is winding down. Catch the tail end of it by watching a Golden State Warriors home game in Oracle Arena, Oakland. Defending champions of last year’s NBA Finals, the Warriors are sure to impress in the 2018 Finals as well.
Theater
The 2018-2019 season of SHN, San Francisco Broadway, has begun. This year, grab tickets to classic Broadway musicals like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, or Miss Saigon. Next year, new Broadway hits like Waitress and Come From Away will arrive on San Francisco stages, as well as the return of Hamilton.
Not into the big-stage feel? The Bay Area has plenty of options for smaller, more local theater. See what’s coming up at The Curran: currently playing is musical comedy Head Over Heels, soon to be followed by Soft Power and the the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen. Meanwhile, the SF American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has even more options for theater of all sorts, including brand-new shows Father Comes Home from the Wars and A Walk on the Moon.
Finally, if you’re in the mood for something different from musicals and plays, check out Beach Blanket Babylon. It’s hardly new – in fact, it’s the country’s longest running musical revue – but an ever-changing and highly topical script that reflects pop culture is sure to keep you entertained.
Food and Drinks
Don’t miss new restaurant International Smoke, a collaboration between Ayesha Curry (wife of Warriors star Steph Curry) and acclaimed chef Michael Mina. International Smoke, located in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, features and celebrates food from various cultures that is grilled or uses smoke and fire – hence the name.
Chefs of renowned pop-up restaurant Lazy Bear just opened True Laurel, a cocktail bar that focuses on pairing food with drinks. Here, enjoy a tasting menu bar that couples cocktails with select bites of food, or order food like broiled oysters, dungeness crab, and fried sweetbreads directly off the menu.
For a brand-new rooftop bar, which is a relatively rare sight in SF, visit Charmaine’s in SoMa. Cozy couches and fire pits create a relaxing atmosphere for you to enjoy your wine, beer, or cocktail. Open from 3 p.m. to midnight on Sundays through Thursdays, and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Charmaine’s is the perfect spot for an after-work happy hour.
Music
San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area are hotspots for music lovers of all kinds. Some of the bigger and more popular venues include the Fillmore, the Masonic, Bill Graham Civic Center Auditorium, the Warfield, and Davies Symphony Hall. For a full list of the biggest concerts coming to the Bay Area this year, see here.
For instance, this April, catch alt-J and the Neighbourhood at Bill Graham or Justin Timberlake at SAP Center in San Jose. P!nk performs at Oracle Arena in May, and Ed Sheeran at AT&T Park in August. For those with a classical bent, don’t miss the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Culture
The San Francisco International Film Festival takes place in mid-April and only costs $16 for General Admission! It’s the longest-running film festival in the Americas, and will showcase over 180 films from around the world. This year, the festival is spotlighting films made in or about the Bay Area, films about space, and films about science and technology.
In a nod to its Japanese influences and heritage, San Francisco celebrates the Cherry Blossom Festival annually. This year, catch the festival in Japantown the weekends of April 14-15 and 21-22. This celebration of springtime features traditional dance, music, and food. Don’t miss ceremonies, performances, and a kids’ corner to keep your littlest ones entertained.
There’s no shortage of things to do in the Bay Area. Whether you’re a resident in the city, just visiting, or touring around friends, you have plenty of options to stay busy and live San Francisco life to the fullest. To stay up to date on the latest events in SF, see here.