Events Around the Bay – Week of November 23, 2018
San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers is Illuminated in Full Bloom December 2 – January 6 Preview Party on November 30 at 6 p.m. Light and sound will take over the glasshouse of the Conservatory of Flowers in a new immersive and interactive exhibition called Night Bloom. Cotton candy sunsets, rare and unusual flowers blossoming in the […]
San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers is Illuminated in Full Bloom
December 2 – January 6
Preview Party on November 30 at 6 p.m.
Light and sound will take over the glasshouse of the Conservatory of Flowers in a new immersive and interactive exhibition called Night Bloom. Cotton candy sunsets, rare and unusual flowers blossoming in the moonlight, and the twinkle of fireflies will spark your imagination. Inspired by the institution’s internationally renowned botanical collection, partake in a living playground powered by illumination. Night Bloom includes six site-specific installations dispersed throughout the Conservatory’s wood-and-glass walls. The stunning Conservatory of Flowers and its interactive displays are your holiday season fantasy land. Be the first to participate in the truly illuminating evening by attending the Preview of Night Bloom Experience on November 30 at 6 p.m. Festivities include a live DJ performance, light up activities, selfie stations, plus food and beverage. Tickets are $50 and include a complimentary beer or wine. This event is for ages 21+ only. Journey through the five galleries and be transported with Night Bloom, which is developed in collaboration with Lightswitch, a consortium of internationally recognized lighting, media, and visual designers, who create unforgettable experiences where people live, work, learn, and play. No need to travel abroad, we have it all right here and it is spectacular!
Tickets and Information
Tickets are $27 or $20 for members, and children age eight and under are free.
conservatoryofflowers.org
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
100 John F Kennedy Drive in San Francisco
Photo courtesy of Conservatory of Flowers
Art without Borders: Immigrants and San Francisco Cultural Life
December 4, Reception 6 p.m.; Event 7 p.m.
Join and enjoy “Chronicle Chats” it presents San Francisco prima ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan, chef Mourad Lahlou, novelist Thi Bui, and singer Diana Gameros in an evening of live performance, conversation, and tasty treats as they share their immigration experience and reveal how being here has allowed them to flourish as artists and describe how immigrants contributed to the rich tapestry that makes up the Bay Area’s cultural life. The evening will be moderated by Kitty Morgan, the SF Chronicle Deputy Managing Editor. I am sure a lot of you, my devoted Kstati readers, have a success story or two to tell and share with the celebrated speakers at this event. “Chronicle Chats” is an ongoing series of events, featuring thought-leaders, influencers, newsmakers and trend-setters. All ticket-holders are invited to a pre-event reception with the Datebook team. Do come and mingle with your favorite Arts & Entertainment writers before the show.
Tickets and Information
Price: $25
For tickets visit SFChronicle.com/Chats
Herbst Theatre, Located in SF War Memorial & Performing Arts Center
401 Van Ness Avenue n San Francisco
Photo courtesy of Chronicle Chats
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair in Daly City
Weekends, November 17 through December 23, 2018
Meet and greet the regal Queen Victoria and her colorfully-attired royal entourage as they arrive to the iconic Cow Palace as it transforms into Dickens’ London for The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Holiday Party. Now in its 36th season, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair brings familiar characters to entertain, surprise, offer roasted chestnuts, and hearty fare. They will even dance with you (my favorite activity!) to the sounds of live music! Visitors can choose from seven stages offering entertainment for all ages and tastes. Family-friendly entertainment abounds, from dancing at Fezziwig’s, to dashing sword-fighting in “All’s Well That Ends Badly” and the holiday pantomime “The Surprising Tale of Baron Munchausen and Mopsa the Fairy.” If your tastes lean more towards the naughty and salty, head down to the dockside and join the Cancan dancers and sailors at the bawdy Mad Sal’s Music Hall. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair overflows with holiday magic for the youngsters, offering hands-on craft activities, old-world games of skill and chance, and fun interactive shows in the Tinsley Green Children’s Area. Cheer the heroes and jeer the villains at the children’s melodrama, join Alice at the Mad Hatters’ Tea Party, or learn the tricks of the chimney-sweep trade from the Miracle Sweeps of London School. A delightful addition to the usual holiday entertainment, youngsters can meet Old Father Christmas at one o’clock on the Father Christmas Stage, ride on a hand-powered Adventure Carousel, cheer the Toy Parade, and laugh at the antics of an authentic British Punch & Judy puppet show. My motto: don’t wait to celebrate the delightfully fabulous holiday activities!
P.S. Start practicing your English accent.
Tickets and Information
Prices start at $23; Children under 5 are free
415-668-0525
dickensfair.com
The Cow Palace Exhibition Halls
2600 Geneva Avenue in Daly City
Photo courtesy of Robin Fadtke, Rich Yee, MarkEYE
A Bronx Tale Unfolds in San Francisco
November 27 through December 23, 2018
Broadway’s hit crowd-pleaser will take you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s, where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Interesting dilemma for a young kid, right? Bursting with high-energy dance numbers and original doo-wop tunes from the songwriter of Beauty and the Beast, A Bronx Tale is an unforgettable story of loyalty and family. Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks directs this streetwise musical based on Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri’s story which The New York Times hails as “A Critics’ Pick! The kind of tale that makes you laugh and cry.” Ready to move to the Bronx? Not yet! Just enjoy the musical in the newly refurbished and historic Golden Gate Theatre.
Tickets and Information
Prices range from $56 to $256
888-746-1799
SHNSF.com
Golden Gate Theatre
1 Taylor Street in San Francisco
Photo courtesy of SHN
Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England, she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, with no borsch or piroshky on her home cooking menu. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out, mostly sushi.
