Discover some of the best things to do and see in San Francisco this summer.
Performances
“Camelot”
July 16 – Sept. 14; San Francisco Playhouse
San Francisco’s off-Broadway company offers a “gritty side” of this musical penned by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, with Guenevere as a goth princess and a stage design in the vision of today’s “Game of Thrones.” (415-677-9596; sfplayhouse.org)
Steely Dan
Aug. 17; America’s Cup Pavilion at
Piers 27/29
Among 11 concerts taking place at the waterfront during the America’s Cup Concert Series this summer, these legendary jazz-rock icons ensure an excellent performance. (americascup.com)
Carpetbag Brigade + Nemcatacoa Teatro
Aug. 17; Yerba Buena Gardens
A wildly entertaining collaboration features the joint efforts of a local stilt-wearing theater group (Carpetbag Brigade) and experimental street performers from Colombia (Nemcatacoa Teatro). This live, outdoor presentation is part of a summer-long series of global dance, music and theatre at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. (415-543-1718; ybgfestival.org)
“Mephistopheles”
Sept. 6 – Oct. 2; War Memorial Opera House
Based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Faust,” the famous tragedy of a philosopher who sells his soul with the devil, this production features music by Arrigo Boito and a renowned cast. Conducted by San Francisco Opera maestro Nicola Luisotti, the opera invites viewers to watch as tenor Ramon Vargas, soprano Patricia Racette and bass-baritone Ildar Abdrazakov—in the title role as Mephistopheles—portray this mystical tale of good versus evil. (415-864-3330; sfopera.com)
Exhibits
“Beat Memories: The Photographs of Allen Ginsberg”
Through Sept. 8; Contemporary
Jewish Museum
Portraits and candid moments of fellow Beat Generation writers William S. Burroughs, Neal Cassady, Gregory Corso and Jack Kerouac are revealed in photographs, captured between 1953 and 1963 with Ginsberg’s Kodak Retina camera. (415-655-7800; thecjm.org)
“Objects of Belief from the Vatican”
Through Sept. 8; de Young
In the U.S. premiere of the Vatican Ethnological Missionary Museum’s collection of ethnographic art, this exhibition showcases unique, rarely seen artifacts that each offer a window into indigenous cultures’ quests for spirituality. (415-750-3600; deyoung.famsf.org)
“Fog Bridge #72494”
Through Sept.16; Exploratorium
At the newly reopened Exploratorium at Pier 15, one of the most inspired exhibits is “Fog Bridge #72494,” a temporary public art piece by Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya. The 150-foot-long pedestrian bridge spans the water between piers 15 and 17, shrouding participants in a dramatic mist. (415-528-4360; exploratorium.edu)
“Built for Speed”
Through Sept. 29; California Academy of Sciences
In a fascinating, science-driven display of the fastest creatures that move through the ocean, viewers can compare Indo-Pacific sailfish and yellowfin tuna with the speed-inspired man-made design of a 3,086-pound AC45 catamaran and its wing, raced by Oracle Team USA in the Oracle Racing Team USA from 2011 to 2013. (415-378-8000; calacademy.org)
America’s Cup Challenger Series and Finals
Through Sept. 21; Piers 27/29 and Marina Green
San Francisco’s “Summer of Racing” kicks off with an opening day celebration on the Fourth of July, followed by more than 11 weeks of the AC72 catamarans taking to San Francisco Bay in their world premiere. Rent a private waterfront club to watch the action, enjoy it from the grandstands (at America’s Cup Park at Piers 27/29 and America’s Cup Village at Marina Green), or board a private yacht for an up-close view of challengers as they try to defeat defender Oracle Team USA. Races start with the Louis Vuitton Cup on July 5, with finals scheduled for Sept. 7 – 21. (americascup.com)
“Impressionists on the Water”
Through Oct. 13; Legion of Honor
Just as the joys of sailing are discovered anew by generations in San Francisco this summer, so will be the experience of taking in this large exhibit of works depicting the joie de vivre of life on the water. Observe this favorite form of recreation and its influence on the brushstrokes, hues and subjects of masters such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Édouard Manet, Georges Seurat and Camille Pissarro. (415-750-3600; legionofhonor.famsf.org)
Events and Activities
Stern Grove Festival
Through Aug. 18; Stern Grove
From June to August, the annual festival brings singers, dancers, musicians and more to the outdoor amphitheater for 10 impressive performances, including shows by the San Francisco Ballet (July 28) and the San Francisco Opera (Aug. 18). (415-252-6252; sterngrove.org)
Berkeley Kite Festival
July 27 – 28; Cesar E. Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina
Give children the experience of building a kite and watching it dance through the air at this whimsical outdoor event, which draws more 30,000 people each year. (510-235-5483; berkeleykitefestival.com)
SF Chefs
July 28 – Aug. 4; Union Square and other Venues in the City
Celebrating the unique flavors of Northern California, SF Chefs brings together Bay Area food and beverage experts for a weeklong lineup of classes, dinners, parties and more. Chefs attending range from Michael Mina to Yigit Pura of Tout Sweet. (sfchefsfoodwine.com) B
