The winter holidays may be drawing to a close, but we’re still popping bubbly and tossing confetti — you too? Here are seven fab ways to celebrate this final holiday weekend, from top-notch (and free!) shows to wood-fired pizzas, breakfast sammies and fog vodka. (Yes, really.)
1 HEAR: Alessia Cara, Logic and Ellie Goulding — for free
The College Football National Championship game heads for Levi’s Stadium on Monday with all kinds of hoopla, but this weekend’s lead-up offers even more fun, from an interactive fan fest to three days of free concerts featuring Ellie Goulding, Logic, OneRepublic and more in downtown San Jose. Did we mention it’s free?
2 EAT: Gelato pops, wood-fired pizzas
If you’re headed to downtown San Jose for the high-octane music (see above), grab a bite beforehand at one of these five tasty dining options, from a laidback taqueria to a market hall with custom gelato pops, Neapolitan-style pizza, poke bowls and more.
3 HEAR: A star-studded tribute to an American jazz legend
Saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter’s annual stint at SFJazz Center is always a hot ticket. Few performers can match the spellbinding wizardry and energy he and his band create onstage. So when Shorter fell ill and had to cancel his appearances, a jaw-dropping team of musicians stepped up to take his place: Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, Kamasi Washington, Terence Blanchard, Joshua Redman and more. They’ll join Shorter’s band in a series of performances titled “A Wayne Shorter Legacy Celebration” this weekend; details are here.
4 PLAY: Hikes & bites
A brisk winter weekend is the perfect time to explore the Bay Area’s epic trails. We have seven suggestions for great trails to explore, paired with pre-hike and apres-walk bites, too.Grab a breakfast sandwich from Sunol’s adorable Casa Bella Bistro, for example, then head for the Bay Area’s “Little Yosemite” trail in Sunol Regional Wilderness.
5 SEE: The amazing Cirque du Soleil
The holiday shows have all but closed shop (though comedian Will Durst’s year-end Kiss Off Comedy Show runs through the weekend) but if you still have a hankering from some live, eye-popping razzle-dazzle, not to mention a heartfelt story about celebrating individuality, considering Cirque du Soleil’s latest hit “Volta,” which is on an extended run in San Francisco and then San Jose. Details are here, and our reviewer’s take is here.
6 SIP: Distillery tours
If you prefer your Botanivore gin — or Buddha’s Hand vodka — with epic bay views, here are two perfect weekend outings. Take a distillery tour and spirits sampling at Alameda’s St. George Spirits, and you’ll not only learn about gin, you’ll explore absinthe and eau de vie, too. Or head for Alameda’s nearby Hangar 1, which offers distillery tours and tastes, too. Be sure to ask about their Fog Point, a vodka made from, yep, San Francisco fog.
7 SEE: Some trippy art inspired by Albert Einstein
In the early 20th century, as scientific discoveries revolutionized our understanding of the universe, artists were urged to keep up. Results of that challenge are now on view in a compelling new exhibit at at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Details are here.
