Bicycle Music Festival

On June 20, check this out:

BMF San Francisco will take place over three venues across the city and include live on-bike music parading (and transporting all equipment, musicians, fans & fun) between venues.

About the Bicycle Music Festival

The mission of the Bicycle Music Festival is to promote sustainable culture in general and bicycle culture in particular, by physically engaging and immersing our community in the magic of bike culture, and cultivating and nurturing a network of local sustainable musicians, through our staging of free, community participatory, bicycle-based music events.

The Bicycle Music Festival is the largest 100% bicycle-powered music festival in the world. The free, all-day (and late into the night) event takes place annually in San Francisco, California on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice. This year the festival rolls on Saturday June 20, 2009.

The Bicycle Music Festival features: a 2000 watt pedal-powered PA system, as many as 15 bands, up to 7 festival stops, outrageous Critical Mass-style bicycle party caravans between festival stops, and zero use of cars or trucks.

With its completely bike-haulable stage, the event is packed up and deployed numerous times: staged sequentially at different public parks and also on a moving “Live On Bike” stage which rolls down city streets.

Who: You and your bike
What: Bike culture and a good exercise
Where: San Francisco (tba, check Web site)
When: Saturday, June 20.
Why: It looks like fun and it's free

http://bicyclemusicfestival.com

Haight-Ashbury Street Fair

The annual Haight-Ashbury Street Fair takes place on Sunday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In it's 32nd year, the event continues to commemorate the internationally recognized Haight-Ashbury District's cultural history and diversity.

There will be live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, food and a children's area.

Visit the Web site for more information:

www.haightashburystreetfair.org

North Beach Festival

This Saturday and Sunday, head over to North Beach in the city for the 55th annual North Beach Festival. The festival will be held at Washington Square Park, June 13 and 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As with most festivals, there will be live music and arts and crafts. The San Francisco festival will also have a celebrity pizza toss, animal blessings, a cooking stage and Italian street chalk art.

Ride public transit or carpool. Validated parking offered.

Check out the North Beach Festival Web site for more details.

Vintners' Festival

Attention wine enthusiasts! On June 6 and 7 and June 13 and 14, attend Vintners' Festival on both sides of the Santa Cruz. The first weekend will take place on the western side of the mountain and the second weekend on the eastern side. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From the event's Web site:

Experience the great wines and restaurants of the Santa Cruz Mountains during Vintners' Festival 2009! This is your best chance to taste and purchase hard-to-find premium wines from many of your favorite wineries. Tickets are redeemed for a commemorative wine glass to be used at each winery and restaurant you visit. Spread out over two weekends and both sides of the Santa Cruz Mountains, come sample new releases, barrel tastings, regional delicacies, live music, local chef demos, art displays and more!

Advance tickets are $30. Tickets at the door are $35.

For more information, click here.

Israel in the Gardens Festival

This Sunday, June 7, visit Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco for the Israel in the Gardens Festival to celebrate the Jewish community. There will be music, film, resource tables, ethnic foods, and jewelry, clothing and craft booths. The festival is located on Mission between 3rd and 4th Street and runs from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more information about the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, click here.

Take BART to the festival and get off at the Powell or Montgomery Street stations.

Berkeley World Music Festival

On Saturday, June 6, the 6th annual Berkeley World Music Festival will be held on Telegraph Avenue from noon to 9 p.m. Listen to live music outdoors and inside cafes. Visit the festival Web site for more information.

Bookstock Music, Art & Movie Festival

The Bookstock Music, Art & Movie Festival will take place on Saturday, June 6 at AT&T Park in San Francisco. There will be music and a live art show presenting 25 artists and a first look at Logan and Noah Miller's film "Touching Home," starring Ed Harris. Some of the proceeds will benefit the Giants Community Fund.

Musical performers include:

• Stroke 9
• Eoin Harrington
• The Monophonics

To purchase tickets or for more information, please click here. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the festival lasts until 11 p.m.

Union Street Eco-Urban Festival

San Francisco's Union Street Festival is happening Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7. The festival takes place across six blocks from Gough to Steiner and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be arts and crafts booths, food and live performances.

There will be an eco-zone with two blocks saved for green businesses and exhibits. The festival is in its 33rd year.

For more information, visit the event's Web site at: www.unionstreetfestival.com

Rock the Bike to Maker Faire

Come to the First Annual Dolores Park to Maker Faire social ride.

Meeting at 8:30AM and departing at 9:00, the ride is about 19 miles over mostly flat terrain, and we will take a leisurely pace, cruising with great music on our party bikes.

We'll arrive at Maker Faire at approximately 11AM, plenty of time to set up our Pedal Powered Stage for the first band of the day.

For more information, go to http://rockthebike.com/

This Sunday: Union Design Festival in San Francisco

The Union Design Festival is happening this Sunday, May 31 at Hayes Valley Park (Octavia and Hayes Streets) in San Francisco. There will be 130 designers selling clothing, accessories, textiles and paper goods. The festival begins at 11:00 a.m. and goes until 6:00 p.m. Most importantly, it's free to attend.

According to the Web site:

All designers are screened based on quality, originality, and cleverness. It really is one of the sweetest events in SF.

For more information, click here.

This Saturday: Berkeley Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival

The 13th annual Berkeley Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival is this Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eat chocolate, look at the chalk artwork or make your own on North Shattuck Avenue.

From the Web site:

With no fees to artists, areas of sidewalk will be assigned to participants to create their own fanciful chalk drawings. A CHALK ART CONTEST for the best drawing will be judged after 4 p.m. Winners will be notified the following day. First prize is $250 with $50 gift certificates awarded for runners up. Same-day registration takes place 10AM-5PM in event booths located along North Shattuck Ave. Artist's chalk is available for a fee.

www.chocolateandchalkart.com

This Weekend: Maker Faire

This weekend, May 30 and 31, head over to the San Mateo County Expo Center for the World's Largest DIY Festival, the Maker Faire.

According to the event's Web site, it is "A two-day, family-friendly event to MAKE, create, learn, invent, CRAFT, recycle, think, play and be inspired by celebrating arts, crafts, engineering, food, music, science and technology."

Advanced ticket sales are over but you can still purchase tickets at different locations throughout the Bay Area. To get information on where, go to www.makerfairetickets.com

Hours:
Saturday- 10 a.m. to 8.p.m.
Sunday- 10 a.m. to 6.p.m.

Visit the Web site at www.makerfaire.com

Left Coast Live

Going on now, Left Coast Live is a week-long music event held in San Jose. Head over to the Circle of Palms Thursday evening and watch the film "Before the Music Dies."

There will be 100 bands playing in 40 venues Friday night. Headlining Friday are Lyrics Born, Booker T. and Miggs. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

For more information, check out the festival's Web site: www.leftcoastlive.com

Uncorked! The San Francisco Wine Festival

This Saturday, May 16, check out Uncorked! San Francisco Wine Festival at Ghirardelli Square and on Beach Street between Larkin & Polk Streets. The event runs from 1 to 6 p.m. and there will be live music. Tickets for the tasting are $50 each.

For more information, click here.

Cinco De Mayo Festival 5/2

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo at Mission Dolores Park in San Francisco on Saturday, May 2. The festival runs from 10am-6pm and is an alcohol-free event. The family friendly event itself is also free and will include music, activities for kids, arts and crafts, entertainment and food.

Bring a blanket to sit on to enjoy the festivities.

For more information, go to the Festival's Web site: www.sfcincodemayo.com

Bay Area National Dance Week

National Dance Week is going on right now throughout the Bay Area. Check out the Web site www.bayareandw.org for locations and dates of free events.

Dates: April 24-May 3

For more information, please check out the following Web sites:
www.nationaldanceweek.org

Greenlight Earth Day Film Festival

Head to Palo Alto on Thursday, April 16 for the Greenlight Earth Day Film Festival and learn how to lessen your impact on the environment through films produced by students and local artists.

The film starts rolling at 7 p.m. at the Cubberly Theater on 4000 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Visit the City of Palo Alto Web site for more information.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

Celebrate the 42nd Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 11 & 12 and the 18 & 19 in San Francisco. The parade will be held on Sunday the 19th and will begin at the Civic Center at 1 p.m. This year's Grand Marshal is actor and activist George Takei, famously known for his character on television show, Star Trek.

The festival is free to attend and will feature entertainment areas with Japanese dancers and drummers and feature martial arts performances, an arts and crafts fair and a children’s area. Traditional Japanese food will also be available at the street fair.

The Japanese American Community event attracts over 200,000 attendees each year.

For more information visit the NCCBF Web site.

St. Patty's Day Parade and Festival

Head to San Francisco for the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival this Saturday, March 14th. For over 150 years, San Francisco has held one of the oldest-running Saint Patrick's Day parades in the United States. The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Second and Market.

Celebrate the Irish culture in the city by the bay and learn more about the Irish heritage. Entrance to the festival is free. There will be food, music, arts and crafts and entertainment at the Civic Center Plaza beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Don't forget to wear green and keep an eye out for green beer!

For more information, go to:
http://www.sresproductions.com/sfstpatricksday.html
http://www.sfstpatricksdayparade.com/

SF Ocean Film Festival, February 19-22

The sixth annual San Francisco Ocean Film Festival begins tomorrow, February 19, with the Opening Night Party at the Aquarium of the Bay followed by three days of films meant to promote ocean conservation to those that watch. Over thirty-five films from around the globe will be featured at this year's event.

Tickets are sold at REI on Brennen Street in the city, as well as the Cowell Theater Box Office at the Fort Mason Center. You can buy tickets online here.

For more information, go to: www.oceanfilmfest.org

Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-off

Head to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Saturday, February 21, to watch clam chowder cooks compete for the title of THE BEST CLAM CHOWDER. Amateurs and professional chefs will cook up their Manhattan and New England chowder and I can't wait to try it.

I'm extremely excited because my boyfriend and I love clam chowder, especially with Tabasco.

Cooking begins at 10 a.m. and tasting for the public is at 1 p.m.

Admission is free but if you'd like to do some taste-testing for yourself, there is a fee of $8 for a tasting kit.

Money raised from the cook off will go towards the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information, visit: www.beachboardwalk.com/clamchowder

Beerfest in Oakland this Sunday

A beer festival in February? Great idea. I thought we were going to have to wait until October.

This Sunday, February 15, the Celebrator Beer News Magazine is celebrating its 21st anniversary with the Best of the West Beerfest. From 4-8pm, taste beer from over 50 breweries for $35 a ticket. There will also be a silent auction to benefit the California Small Brewers Association.

The Beerfest will be held at the Oakland Marriott Hotel on 1001 Broadway. There is parking on-location and those of you who prefer to take BART, get off at the 12th Street Station in front of the hotel.

Go to the Celebrator's web site to learn more: www.celebrator.com

SF Independent Film Festival

Going on now is the 11th Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival at multiple venues throughout the city. The festival began February 5 and goes through the 22nd. Check out the schedule of festival films at the Roxie. There are a wide range of topics and you're sure to find something that interests you.

For more information about this year's festival, go to www.sfindie.com.

I've started a new blog!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their new year!

I've got some exciting news. I have started a new blog, Free Bay Area, you're guide to inexpensive or free things to do around the Bay and Peninsula. Check it out.

http://freebayarea.blogspot.com