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Summer brings endless sunshine, with plenty of beachy fun, outdoor shows and, of course, rampaging dinosaurs on the silver screen. Here are nine must-see, must-do items for your start-of-summer bucket list.
1 SEE: Chris Pratt, T-rex and the Indoraptor
You thought “Jurassic World” was scary fun? Based on the trailers for “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” which is due out June 22, we’re going to be watching this one from underneath our seats. Those teeth! That volcano! We can’t wait. We hear San Francisco’s Alamo Drafthouse will be serving triceraTOTS, pteradactyl wings and a rum-based Drank-o-saur. Catch a summer flick there, or head for one of these Bay Area theaters, where the food’s even better than what’s on screen. (Also coming this month: “Ocean’s 8” and “The Incredibles 2.”)
2 EAT: Extreme ice cream
What better way to cool off than with ice cream? We’re talking ice cream tacos, dipped in chocolate and frozen with liquid nitrogen and doughnut-ice cream sandwiches. Yes, really! Here’s the scoop on five new extreme ice cream shops around the Bay Area.
3 HEAR: Hot tunes, free admission
No need to spend a fortune on concert tickets, when the Bay Area produces so many fantastic, free, outdoor music festivals. Pack a picnic and go hear reggae hero Ziggy Marley at San Francisco’s Stern Grove on June 24. “Midnight at the Oasis” singer Maria Muldaur will open Point Richmond’s summer concert series on June 8. Get the lowdown on dozens of free summer shows, from Los Gatos’ Jazz on the Plazz to Concord’s Music & Market series, right here.
4 PLAY: Pig races and roller coasters
From the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs to the monster trucks, wild rides and bacon-wrapped everything, the Alameda County Fair is hot stuff. The fair runs from June 15 to July 8 at the Pleasanton fairgrounds, and it’s just one of 35 festivals and fairs unfolding around the Bay Area this month. (Arrr, Vallejo Pirate Festival, we’re lookin’ at you!)
5 PLAY: Splish splash
Summer’s off to a sizzling start with temperatures already soaring into the triple digits. Stay cool by heading to one of the Bay Area’s crazy-impressive aquatic complexes. We’ve got six splashy suggestions for public swim centers from Morgan Hill to El Cerrito, where you’ll find Olympic-sized lap pools and toddler-friendly wading areas, with everything from slides and geysers to water bikes.
6 HEAR: “The Ring” cycle
No, no, not the horror flick. Not Bilbo and Frodo, either. We’re talking Brunnhilde, Valkyries and a four-opera marathon of Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen” June 12-July 1 at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House. Take a peek at the cast here (there was one major casting change two weeks ago), then learn more about this addictively absorbing, operatic tale about, in the words of the SF Opera folks, “a world unhinged by corruption and politics, ravaged by greed and neglect.”
7 DRINK: Prost!
Summer and beer gardens are a perfect match, and the Bay Area roster of awesome new beer gardens just keeps growing. It’s our civic duty to go explore them, don’t you think? Try San Francisco Brewing‘s new digs at Ghirardelli Square, Oakland’s year-old Temescal Brewing or one of these beer-garden possibilities — including one you can reach by kayak.
8 PLAY: Cool hikes for hot days
No need to give up hiking when temperatures soar. It may be steamy inland, but temperatures drop out at the coast and along redwood-shaded trails. So head for misty Butano State Park, Santa Cruz’s West Side or one of these other cooling Bay Area hiking spots.
9 WATCH: Warriors vs the Cavs
Of course, we can’t leave this little shindig without noting that the biggest spectator extravaganza this month is the NBA Finals matchup between our beloved Warriors and those other guys. Catch the action from one of these hot sports bars or host a viewing party at home with a little help from Uber Eats, which is jumping aboard the Dub Nation bandwagon with free delivery on game nights.