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After Memorial Day and the short work week, we should all be in peak weekend condition and ready to dive back into general fun, fabulous food and tasty adult beverages. Here are seven ways to enjoy the S.F. Bay Area and beyond this weekend, from the Dubs’ quest for more glory to some stellar music and an awesome hike on which we can pretty much guarantee you will not be eaten by a bear.
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1 HEAR: Amazing concerts, from Halsey to the Dead
Summer tends to ramp up the concert scene, and this weekend has some doozies. From Dead & Company, featuring ex-Grateful Dead members plus guitar hero John Mayer (yes, that John Mayer), to radio station Wild 94.9’s Wazzmatazz concert, featuring Halsey and Ellie Goulding, among others, to comedians Chelsea Handler and Jim Gaffigan, you have lots of choices. And if classical music is your passion, how about spending some time with Beethoven’s sublime Ninth Symphony?
2 PLAY: Hike the epic Skyline
Lace up those boots! You don’t have to trek the colossal Pacific Crest Trail to find wilderness adventure. The Skyline National Recreation Trail runs through the Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond hills for 32 glorious miles of Bay views and scenic wonders — and no bears. (Other than Cal alumni, anyway.) Here’s what you need to know.
3 WATCH: The Warriors charge for the throne
No, we’re not talking the Iron Throne (can we all please get that out of our systems right now?). We’re talking about the Golden State Warriors squaring off against the Toronto Raptors for the NBA championship, in what will be their final season at Oracle Arena. The first two games are 6 p.m. May 30 and 5 p.m. June 2 in Toronto, so stock up on snacks, drinks and favorite Drake put-downs, and join the international debate over which city has the better foodie scene. (Seriously?) And if you are a Chipotle fan, keep an eye out for free burritos.
4 SEE: A huge angry lizard or a huge flamboyant rock star
In case you hadn’t noticed, the popcorn movie season has arrived. Case in point, your movie choices this weekend include the return of Godzilla to the big screen (we missed ya, pal) and “Rocketman,” a film that tells us how Elton John became a star and how any man can perform in 8-inch heels. Your weekend movie options are here.
5 EAT & SIP: Chowdah anyone?
This year’s big Monterey Wine Festival, which runs May 31-June 2, includes live music, a cocktail camp and culinary competitions, including a Chowdah Challenge. We have the deets on that festival, Livermore’s Fido-friendly Wine & Wags, and 16 other wine-centric events here. And while we’re on the subject of fairs and festivals and such, there are a bunch going on this weekend, from San Jose’s Greek Festival to Walnut Creek’s Art and Wine Fest. And we’ve got a roundup of all the fun here.
6 SEE: Big jazz stars in a quaint little town
The world is catching on to the awesomeness that is the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. Not that the lovely Sonoma County city isn’t worth visiting on its own merits. But it becomes a center of the music world with the return of the this two-week festival featuring a host of legends and on-the-rise musicians. All the deets are here.
7 PLAY: A “Big Little Lies” tour
If you’re heading to Monterey — and why the heck shouldn’t you be? — you can channel your inner Madeline, Jane and Celeste with this dreamy “Big Little Lies” tour itinerary, from the Wharfside Espresso Bar (psst, it’s actually a trattoria) to Bixby Bridge. Details are here. (And the show returns to HBO in a few weeks!)
