San Francisco Bay Area
Concerts on the couch
If it seems like it’s been a year since you last saw live music, that’s because it probably has been. Oakland’s Bandcamp is delivering the next best thing to IRL concerts by introducing ticketed, livestreamed shows featuring dozens of excellent bands that you can watch from the comfort of your own home. Overpriced beer is optional.
A very Bay Area holidays
A Tremayne bow tie lumbar pillow from a sustainable black-owned business. A 24-piece box of seasonal bonbons from an organic, fair trade Berkeley chocolatier. A breathable Planting Change face mask designed by an Oakland muralist and illustrator. Check out these 64 cool holiday gift options all made right here in the Bay Area.
Lighten up, S.F.
Need a little light in your life at the end of a very tough year? Illuminate SF’s Festival of Light offers the perfect pandemic-friendly holiday activity. The eighth annual event features more than 40 eco-friendly art installations lighting up 17 neighborhoods all over San Francisco.
Trash for dinner
No, this is not an Onion story. Shuggie’s Trash Pizza is embracing hyper-sustainable practices at its new restaurant in San Francisco’s North Beach. Owners Kayla Abe and David Murphy will feature such ingredients as okara flour (a tofu byproduct), uncommon meats like pork jowel and smelt, and “imperfect” veggies that are discarded from traditional produce shelves.
Los Angeles Greater Area
Dazzling Six Flags holiday drive
The coasters are quiet, but the park is alive with millions of colorful lights, festive music and holiday characters, including Santa and his elves. This year’s route includes The Underground, where famous West Coast Customs show cars are waiting to wow you.
LA pizzas, global flavors
Chicago vs. NY style? Fuhgeddaboutit – LA brings the best pizza game with flavors from around the world. Brazilian, French, Indian, Korean, Mexican, Persian, Swedish, Thai and Lebanese (think dessert style with cream, banana and pistachios). Can you say YUM?
Watch the Bay come aglow
During Newport Dunes’ 30th Annual Lighting of the Bay November 27 – January 1, the Back Bay will glow from sunset to sunup with festive, floating sailboat-like holiday lights and their water reflections. Friday and Saturday nights, Moe B’s Munchies beachfront grill serves cocktails and food for picnics.
Sledding at the beach: It’s so SoCal
Why get cold and wet when you can slide down the sand berms at Venice or Marina del Rey without mittens or parka? As you wait your turn, keep your eyes on the ocean: you might see migrating gray whales doing their own exuberant slides through the waves.
