Things To Do In Pacifica

This week: giant fish fly over Berkeley, Rufus Wainwright plays at Stern Grove, Rob Delaney proves that he’s just as funny off the web, travel agents plan outer-space vacations, and Eat Drink SF showcases chef favorites. As always, check Groupon for even more things to do in San Francisco. Berkeley Kite Festival Berkeley | Saturday, July 26–Sunday, July 27 Every year, the Berkeley Kite Festival turns the world upside-down, transforming the sky into an ocean where gigantic sea creatures ride the air currents. The family-oriented fest also has free kite-making and kite-flying lessons, so anyone can add to the spectacle. (César Chávez Park at the Berkeley Marina, 11 Spinnaker Way; free) Rufus Wainwright at the Stern Grove Festival Merced Manor | Sunday, July 27 Rufus Wainwright only needs a piano to perform his trademark marriage of pop and classical music—and that’s all he’ll have at this intimate outdoor concert. Arrive at 2 p.m. to hear Quartet San Francisco open with their genre-jumping instrumental songs. (19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard; free) Rob Delaney Russian Hill | Wednesday, July 30 Rob Delaney wears many hats, all of them hilarious: he’s a legendary Twitter presence, a memoir author (Rob Delaney: Mother. Wife. Sister. Human. Warrior. Falcon. Yardstick. Turban. Cabbage.), and a standup comedian. Catch him in that third role at Cobb’s Comedy Club on Wednesday, as long as you’re OK with foul language and a two-drink minimum. (915 Columbus Ave.; $20–$25; buy tickets here) Intergalactic Travel Bureau SoMa | Wednesday, July 30–Friday, August 1 Even if you have the budget for space tourism, it can be tough to decide on a single destination. That’s where the Intergalactic Travel Bureau comes in. Its agents—a team of actors versed in astronomical research—will tell you where to go and what to do there, whether it’s skiing on Pluto or hiking the red canyons on Mars. Stop by [freespace] between noon and 8 p.m. for your consultation. (1011 Market St.; free) Eat Drink SF Marina | Friday, August 1–Sunday, August 3 One of many food festivals scheduled for this summer, Eat Drink SF certainly sets the bar high. The first day kicks off the celebration with My Big Obsession: Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop. Eatin’, a gathering of dishes beloved by the city’s best chefs. Expect bites from restaurants such as Casey Thompson’s Aveline, Flour + Water, Delfina, and Spruce. (Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd.; prices vary depending on the event; save on regular or VIP admission with a Groupon, or buy regular tickets here) Image credits: Berkeley Kite Festival photo by _e.t, Rufus Wainwright photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Intergalactic Travel Bureau photo by Olivia Koski, Eat Drink SF photo by Gamma Nine.

The projected two-year closure of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art casts a long shadow over the Bay Area’s arts scene, particularly for the field trip crowd and young weekenders who loved to take in the vast collections. But savvy grown-up patrons aren’t crying too hard, thanks to several new weeknight events at other museums and galleries around town, each geared exclusively toward adults. The over-21 crowds also have a reason to celebrate, thanks to the availability of booze at many of these adult interactions. Newly reopened on the Embarcadero, look for the Exploratorium. On the first Thursday of every month, grownups queue up for After Dark, an adult party that combines tactile exhibits with mixed cocktails and a rich array of themed programs such as Fog, the Art of Tinkering and Sexplorations. Much of the science behind the Exploratorium’s fascinating exhibits may rely on serendipity, but in this case, it’s best to plan ahead, as more than any other after-hours shindig in San Francisco, this one sells out quickly. San Francisco’s other hall of technology, the California Academy of Sciences, hosts the hip NightLife gathering every Thursday. Well-known deejays stop by regularly for sessions that last until 10 p.m., and if you look carefully you might even see the Academy’s albino alligator bobbing along to the beat. Partygoers opt for a craftier, hands-on feel at this weekly get together, all while sipping cocktails and immortalizing the night from inside the photo booth. The relatively recent Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio might seem like the kiddiest place on earth, but just as Disneyland has Downtown Disney, the museum itself loves catering to adults. The 18-and-over series Animate Your Night brings a monthly party to the Disney doorstep, with rotating themes that play on vaulted classics. Look for rare Disney tidbits scattered throughout the space and lots of craft cocktails for anyone who’s old enough to enjoy them. Intrepid adults can also take a peek at the oddball happenings every Friday at the de Young, where panel discussions, live music, fashion and drag shows, art-making and more all collide in a single space. There are cocktails, a prix-fix menu and extended hours, of course, but the cultural assault that is the de Young certainly isn’t for everyone. Thankfully, there’s likely to be another adult-only after hours museum party not far away.

With a major craft fair every couple of weeks or so, San Francisco’s creative types appear to constitute a majority of the population, selling designer handmade bits and baubles that bring joy to bedroom walls and living room shelves everywhere. Some people are born with the innate ability to open an Etsy store, while others must learn. Fortunately, there are several exceptional spots to get your craft on throughout the city. The Museum of Craft and Design actually does partner with Etsy, the online home for DIY craft-sellers worldwide. Whether it’s needle felting, embossing, fashioning wire-wrapped mini mobiles or building robots with the kids on the weekends, the Dogpatch-neighborhood institution can have participants go from clueless bumbler to running a booth at the Renegade Craft Fair in no time. Anyone who’s taken a class at Workshop knows that this Western Addition DIY powerhouse is the real deal. If it’s the hands-on team sharing their knowledge of cheese-making or leading a master class in the art of letterpress, the guidance at Workshop is judgment-free, the music is loud and there’s always cold beer in the fridge. For a casual atmosphere that promotes community, creativity and fun, Workshop’s simple classes offer expert advice that can be applied at home immediately. As the community space that’s more or less the philanthropic wing of the burgeoning Bi-Rite food empire, 18 Reasons hosts its fair share of wine tastings and cookbook signings. Here, members and non-members alike can learn the ins-and-outs of making chocolate, gingerbread houses and even pasta. Those with an eagerness to get their hands dirty can even sign up for a twelve-session urban gardening school. Finally, online magazine-slash-startup incubator The Bold Italic throws a lot of themed parties across the city, but its crafty calendar emphasis extends to workshops on the cerebral world of 3-D printing. There’s no end to the cutting-edge technological possibilities being offered by The Bold Italic, which stands in stark contrast to some of the more crafty, old-school classes available across town. No matter where your interests lie, there’s sure to be a seminar or breakout session in San Francisco that helps explain it all.