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Sure, the news is crazy these days, the traffic is terrible and the world’s best basketball player suspects that the moon landing was faked. But none of that matters! Well, OK, it matters, but the weekend is upon us and it’s time to put it all behind you and have fun. So here are seven ways to enjoy yourself in San Francisco and beyond, from cinematic royals to hot new restaurants and the world’s hottest hip-hop star.
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1 WATCH: Ebenezer Scrooge realize he’s been kind of a jerk
There is something about the Christmas morning redemption of the world’s most famous “Bah, Humbug”-er that makes “A Christmas Carol” such a joy to behold. There are several Bay Area productions of Dickens’ classic story to choose from this weekend, not to mention a wealth of “Nutcrackers” and other holiday dance and theater offerings. We’ve got the fab holiday show rundown here. and details on San Jose’s wonderful (and free) “Season of Hope” concerts, too.
2 EAT: Try 3 hot new restaurants
Aloha, baby! The Bay Area’s temps are dropping, but Michael Mina has a new Hawaiian-inspired restaurant in the city that will transport you — or your tastebuds, anyway — to the islands. And in the East and South Bays: Oakland’s charming new Benchmark pizzeria and Manresa Bread’s crazy-good cafe in Campbell. (And if you’re feeling nostalgic — or just want a good cry — these are the 14 long-lived restaurants we said goodbye to in 2018. *sob* How will we survive without Brennan’s Irish coffee?)
3 SEE: An epic power struggle or a cartoon “Spider-Man”
Movie theaters this weekend are brimming with intriguing options as the year-end film season goes full steam. “Mary Queen of Scots” showcases Oscar nominees Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie squaring off. There’s an Oscar-buzzy animated take on “Spider-Man,” and Julia Roberts playing the desperate mother of a drug-addicted son. And oh so much more. Check out this weekend’s movie options here.
4 SEE: Laurel & Hardy at the Silent Film Museum
Hollywood, shmollywood. The Niles district of Fremont was the center of the silent film world when Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton ruled the cinemas. Blast to the past this weekend with a visit to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. The tour is big fun — and this Saturday, they’re screening silent-film comedy shorts ($7) featuring Chaplin, Keaton and Laurel and Hardy.
5 HEAR: The world’s hottest hip-hop star
Travis Scott might make more headlines as the beau and baby-daddy of Kylie Jenner, but his new album “Astroworld” has — wait for it — really taken off and his tour, which lands in Oakland Sunday, is the biggest thing in pop music these days. Or maybe you’d rather head to Berkeley and watch two of the best banjo players in the world share the stage (which isn’t unusual, since they’re married and all). Find details here.
6 PLAY: Apres-ski hot spots
Gourmet s’mores near the ice rink, caramel-y Twinky Mochas at a ski lodge and Warm Woody’s at lakeside? If you’re headed to Tahoe this weekend (or any weekend, for that matter), we’ve got the perfect apres-ski lineup right here.
7 HEAR: Handel’s soul-stirring “Messiah”
Listening to (and maybe singing along with) Handel’s beloved oratorio can deliver some of the most moving moments of the holiday season, and the Bay Area is blessed with some gorgeous renditions of the “Messiah.” Here’s the run-down on some of the best options.
