SF Happenings: Top Events for September 1, 2016

Check out our SF Happenings series to find cool things happening in San Francisco on September 1, 2016 and beyond, including during Labor Day weekend!

Welcome to Reset San Francisco’s third installment of SF Happenings, a weekly series that highlights amazing things happening in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area.

The articles cover everything from art exhibits and cultural events to outdoor activities and a seemingly never-ending array of new restaurants and other spots opening.

Each Thursday we publish a weekly roundup of the coolest events and fun things to do so you can plan your weekend — and maybe even the next few weeks — with ease.

Happening This Weekend…It’s Labor Day!

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In case you didn’t know: Labor Day is a federal holiday that honors the American workforce.

Because it’s observed each year on the first Monday of September, it’s also considered by many to mark the unofficial end of summer, which helps explain the emphasis on outdoor activities when it comes to celebrating Labor Day.

Honestly, one of the best ways to spend the Labor Day holiday is simply by heading to one of San Francisco’s more than 200 parks and open spaces for a picnic or inviting a group of close friends over for a BBQ.

But, if you’d like to enjoy a little more culture and a little less cooking this Labor Day, we suggest heading across the Bay to the Sausalito Art Festival.

64th Annual Sausalito Art Festival

What:

This year’s art festival will feature paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and more from over 250 artists, as well as musical entertainment on three stages.

As an added bonus, attendees can enjoy a gourmet treat or glass of wine or champagne as they take in the beautiful views along the Sausalito Waterfront.

When:

• Saturday, September 3, 2016 at 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Monday, September 5, 2016 at 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Where:

Marinship Park, Sausalito, CA 94965

Cost:

Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

Bridge SF

What:

As described on its website, “Bridge SF is a collaboration of public, private, non-profit, and academic institutions coming together to challenge assumptions, develop skills, share best practices, and build partnerships that drive innovation for a better tomorrow.”

Hosted by the San Francisco Mayor’s Office, the University of California, Berkeley, and City Innovate Foundation, this year’s four-day event will focus on “Urban Mobility, Economic Development, and Resiliency.”

The event is targeted toward “policymakers and leading innovators from across the Bay Area” and will feature “thought-leadership panels, best practices, case studies, partner events, city tours, and plenty of networking opportunities.”

When:

September 3, 2016 – September 9, 2016 (Check out the full event schedule for all the details.)

Where:

Events will take place at various locations throughout San Francisco and Berkeley. Visit Bridge SF’s venue page to learn more.

Cost:

Tickets start at about $250. Register here.

Coming Up in the Next Few Weeks…

21st Annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival

What:

For more than 20 years now, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company has hosted an annual chocolate festival at Ghirardelli Square.

This year’s event will benefit Project Open Hand, a non-profit organization that provides nutritious meals to seniors and those who are critically ill.

The chocolate festival promises to be a tasty event for all ages, featuring “Chocolate School,” live culinary demonstrations, ice cream eating contests, a chocolate tasting that includes 15 samples, and the popular Ghirardelli Chocolate Lounge.

When:

• Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Where:

Ghirardelli Square – 900 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Cost:

Tickets range from $20-50 and can be purchased in advance via Eventbrite.

New Spots Opening…

Black Cat

What:

According to its website: “Black Cat is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, the historic arts and entertainment district once home to great supper clubs and fabled jazz venues such as Blackhawk. Tapping into that legacy, Black Cat is a refined social dining experience featuring a modern American supper club menu.”

An article from Eventbrite’s Rally adds the following:

[When] it’s time to turn up the sex appeal, Black Cat’s basement is where you want to be … it’s a super sexy, dramatic space with a bronze clad bar at the center, velvet and leather banquettes, quirky art, and cabaret tables with faux-fur lined chairs, all circled around a revue stage at the far end of the space.”

“…If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a performance that may include live jazz or a cabaret revue, but even without live entertainment, Black Cat will leave you feline just fine.”

When:

Open seven days a week from 5:30 PM – 2:00 AM

Dinner reservations are available starting at 5:30pm with the last reservation for the evening at midnight. A bar menu is offered until 1:30am.

Where:

400 Eddy Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Cost:

Small plates range from $5-12, while entrees are a reasonable $12-16.

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