The Fourth of July may be over, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had around the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend. And we have plenty of suggestions, from wine country getaways to outdoor theater productions, hot movies and sensational public swimming pools, where you can get your splash on.
1 SEE: Glorious theater al fresco
The outdoor theater season is in full bloom in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the options are deeper than you can probably imagine. What’s your pleasure? Shakespeare? Of course. Musicals? You bet. Classic tales with a twist? Yup. Wisecracking, left-leaning rabble-rousers? ‘Natch (this is the Bay Area, after all). So pack a picnic, bundle up (think layers, people) and head out to some of the 15 lovely theaters where you can catch a show.
2 EAT: 5 fab French bistros
Bastille Day is just around the corner, complete with French waiters’ races, Gallic parties and beaucoup fetes (we’ve got a list of events started here) But you don’t need to wait until July 14 to indulge your inner Parisian, not when there are so many great French restaurants close to home. Here are five chic options, from San Jose’s Toulouse-Lautrec-inspired Black Sheep Brasserie to Lafayette’s dreamy Reve Bistro. Bon appetit!
3 SEE: The Oakland movie that has Hollywood buzzing
Oakland’s Boots Riley is an artistic force of nature. He’s best known as a member of the politically minded hip-hop outfit The Coup. But this weekend, his new movie “Sorry to Bother You,” a comedy set in a surreal Oakland, hits theaters. It was already a hit at Sundance and critics are calling it a wild and unique effort from a unique filmmaking talent. If you’re looking for a more conventional buzzworthy effort, Ant-Man and The Wasp open, too. Here’s a look at all your cinematic options this weekend.
4 PLAY: Make a splash
Keep your cool this hot, hot weekend with a dip in one of these six spectacular swimming pools around the Bay Area, where refreshingly cool water doesn’t just fill the pools, it flows down crazy slides and shoots into the air, as well. We’re talking spray grounds, cascading fountains and water geysers. The perfect place to chill — and splash.
5 SIP & PLAY: Lodi’s zin and craft beer scene
Napa dazzles and Carmel sizzles, but there are other fun wine regions to explore closer to home. Check out Lodi’s vineyard and brewery scene, where unpretentious wineries serve up incredible zinfandels and rosés, and the new Idol Brewing pours suds. Whether you’re daytripping or weekending, we’ve got suggestions for the perfect getaway, including where to eat, sip and snooze.
6 HEAR: Flowering pianos or classic blues
Once upon a time, a tiny unincorporated speck of Hayward was a center of the blues world. And Hayward celebrates that nifty bit of history each year with a festival full of top local and touring blues musicians, plus great food, beer and other attractions. The Hayward Russell City fest is back this weekend and here’s what you need to know about it. And if you want to stroll through the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park, don’t be surprised if stumble onto someone just killing it on a piano. It’s part of the annual Flower Piano event, which kicks off this weekend.
7 SIP: Sudsy fun
The 17th annual Monterey Beer Festival takes over the lawns of the Monterey Fairgrounds on Saturday with more than two dozen breweries, from Lagunitas and Firestone Walker to Altamont Beer Works and Alvarado Street. Plus live entertainment — the Spazmatics, Daze on the Green and more — food vendors and a roving Trike-a-Pose photo booth. Big fun.