Things To Do In Pacifica

Since it is wintertime, it's quite obvious that it will be cold in San Francisco. But temperatures can actually vary quite a bit during the winter - anywhere from the mid-high 30s to the low 60s on a warmer winter day. One thing is guaranteed: the weather in SF is completely unpredictable and will vary throughout the day. In the city itself, the different districts and neighborhoods also have their own micro climates. During the same hour on a given day, one end of the city to the other (a distance of just 7 miles) can bring banks of thick fog, patches of sun, wind tunnels, and areas of rain, which means that it helps to be prepared for anything. Tips for what to wear during the winter in San Francisco: Layers are key - both lightweight and heavier layers: warm sweaters, t-shirts, scarves, hoodies (anything that is easy to remove if the sun peeks out and it becomes warm suddenly, but easy to carry and put back on when the clouds roll in) A warm coat, especially for walking around the city. Comfortable closed toed shoes & socks - flip flops are for the August/September/October months. Casual for all seasons: San Francisco is one of the more casual cities out there - even during the winter when it's easier to dress up. Jeans, khakis, etc. are all acceptable - even at nicer restaurants. Comfortable and casual (with layers) is the way to go. Tips for what to do during the winter (on a nicer day): San Francisco will be cold, but will definitely have a good number of days in the winter where there isn't any rain - so outdoor activities are still doable! Outdoor Ice Skating: Yerba Buena Gardens and the Embarcadero Center both have great ice rinks in the winter. City Lights Cruise: The Red and White Fleet offers cruises around the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and more during the winter season, dubbed the City Lights Cruise. This two-hour cruise offers views of the city skyline at night, while a hearty buffet, drinks, and live music keep the ambiance enjoyable. Point Reyes Whale Watching: Dress warmly and grab some comfortable shoes for some of the best whale watching in the Bay Area. During the winter, the clear views at Point Reyes around Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse are hot spots for whale watching. Visit Alcatraz: Tours to the island are offered year-round, and entrance to Alcatraz is free (although the ferry to get to Alcatraz requires a ticket, best bought in advance). Tips for what to do during the winter (on a rainy day): Museums are great places to hide out on a rainy day - the MOMA and Exploratorium are open daily during the winter and offer hours of enjoyment. Take a factory tour: TCHO chocolate offers tours of their factory daily, and just across the Bay Bridge in Berkeley, you can learn how sake is made at Takara Sake. A drive north takes you to the Jelly Belly Factory. Mission Cliffs Climbing and Fitness: Looking for something active even in bad weather? Mission Cliffs offers indoor climbing (from beginner to expert levels), regardless of the winter weather outside. Go Shopping: San Francisco has some of the best shopping around. The hot spots are in the Union Square / Westfield Mall area (which has the largest selection of brands, stores, and clothing items, Chestnut Street (lined with a mix of boutique, sophisticated shops, beauty outlets and restaurants alongside brand name retailers), and Hayes Valley (which is full of art galleries, contemporary boutiques, interior design studios, outdoor cafes and wine bars). For more ideas, explore all our deals for things to do in SF.

This week: Filter brings the noise, a carnival takes over Candlestick Park, a theater ensemble plays with Macbeth, the symphony teams up with Pixar, and Japanese pop-culture icons pay the bay a visit. And if that’s not enough for you, check Groupon for more fun things to do in San Francisco. Filter, Helmet, and Local H NoPa | Tuesday, July 15 Filter frontman Richard Patrick got his first big gig playing guitar for Nine Inch Nails on tour. Now, six Filter albums later, his band is on their own “anti-folk” tour alongside metal gurus Helmet and the two Chicago-based rockers of Local H. (The Independent, 628 Divisadero St.; $25; buy tickets here) Tech Carnival at Candlestick Park Bayview-Hunters Point | Wednesday, July 16 The Silicon Valley Sports League has organized a fitting sendoff for Candlestick Park, filling it with carnival attractions for all ages. Jousting battles, wrestling matches with sumo suits, and old-fashioned fairground games will all compete with food trucks and musical acts for attention. Meanwhile, the league will host its playoff games to see who will win the title of champion. (Candlestick Park, 490 Jamestown Ave.; $10; buy tickets here) Makbet Mission | Wednesday, July 16; Friday, July 18; Saturday, July 19 Part of the Fury Factory Festival of Ensemble Theater, Makbet is a loose interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth that relies on each of its actors to know every single line of the play. Members of the ensemble Dzieci switch spontaneously from role to role during the performance, which also incorporates rituals and chants from Eastern Europe. (Z Below, 470 Florida St.; $16; buy tickets here) Pixar in Concert Civic Center | Thursday, July 17–Sunday, July 20 Accompanied by movie clips, the San Francisco Symphony will play music from all 14 of Pixar’s films, from Toy Story to Monsters University. Each performance is hosted by a Pixar filmmaker—director Lee Unkrich, writer-director Brad Bird, or chief creative officer John Lasseter—who will talk about the making of their whimsical works. (Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave.; $35–$150; buy tickets here) J-Pop Summit Festival Japantown | Saturday, July 19–Sunday, July 20 The J-Pop Summit Festival contains even smaller festivals inside of itself, including the Japan Film Festival and the delicious premiere of Ramen Street. This celebration of Japanese pop culture also hosts fashion events, a pocky-eating contest, and musical guests such as legendary beatboxer Daichi. (Post Street between Webster and Laguna Streets; free admission) Image credits: Filter and Macbeth images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Tech Carnival photo courtesy of Silicon Valley Sports League, J-Pop Summit Festival photo by Vincent Samaco. 

This week: games of Twister in Jessie Square, a DJ set from Chromeo, spooky stories at a hidden locale, standup comedy at the Pacific Pinball Museum, and too many old postcards to count at the Vintage Paper Fair. As always, check Groupon for even more things to do in San Francisco. Lunchtime Board Games at the Contemporary Jewish Museum SoMa | Tuesday, July 22, noon From noon to 1 p.m. on certain Tuesdays, a game cart sits outside the Contemporary Jewish Museum, stocked with classics like Twister and Operation. Grab a pastrami sandwich from Wise Sons Jewish Deli and watch the fun, or get in on a round of Trouble. (Jessie Square Plaza, 736 Mission St.; free with museum admission) Chromeo DJ Set Union Square | Wednesday, July 23 Alongside Jazzy Jim, DJ E-Rock, and Romeo Reyes, Canadian duo Chromeo will bring their electric-disco sensibilities to Infusion Lounge for this installment of Boombox Wednesdays. Showing up early is recommended, so consider snacking on some sweet-and-sour pork at the club’s restaurant before hitting the dance floor. (124 Ellis St.; free with RSVP) An Evening of Ghost Stories with William T. Vollmann ??? | Thursday, July 24, 7 p.m. Half haunted reading, half scavenger hunt, this eerie event requires guests to pick up a black envelope from City Lights Bookstore to learn its location. Author William T. Vollmann will read tales that build bridges between the living and the dead from his latest collection, Last Stories and Other Stories. (free) Comedy and Collisions at the Pacific Pinball Museum Alameda | Friday, July 25, 8 p.m. In celebration of a year of comedy shows at the Pacific Pinball Museum, six San Francisco comedians will bring their best biting routines while guests partake of “flipper food.” Come early to play some pinball (there’s more than 90 playable machines!), and stay late to hear DJ Darewon curate the dance music. (1510 Webster St., Alameda; $15; buy tickets here) Vintage Paper Fair Inner Sunset | Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27 The Vintage Paper Fair is a seemingly neverending trove of two-dimensional treasures, from antique postcards and pinups to propaganda fliers. Whether you work on collages, want to start a scrapbook, or just feel like browsing through hundreds of thousands of historical documents, it’s the place to look. (San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park, 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way; free) Image credits: Chromeo and postcard images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, pinball photo by Chase N.