Burlingame Art and Jazz Festival

On Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9, Burlingame Avenue will be transformed into its annual Art and Jazz Festival. There will be food, beer and wine, arts, crafts, jewelry, home and garden, a kids' area and live music. The festival goes from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

This will be the festival's 17th year.

BAND LINEUP

Saturday, August 8

Come and enjoy the contagious tunes of Ricardo Scales, along with special celebrity guests all day Saturday including: Rodney Franklin, Dorothy Morrison, James Levi, Paula Harris, Geri Whitmore, James Fleres, Deltrina Johnson, The Mekesmo Band, 11th Commandment, Jaye Richardson & Company, Michael "Spiderman," Robinson's "Simply Supremes," Rapture (formerly the Hard-Headed Boys) and Erica Leonard.

Sunday, August 9

11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Terence Brewer

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Pamala Rose

2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Stompy Jones

4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Fito Reinoso

WHO: The Burlingame Chamber of Commerce presents the 17^th annual Burlingame Art & Jazz Festival

WHAT: A fabulous annual event featuring over 120 artists, fine art, sculptures, ceramics, crafts, jewelry, specialty clothing, delicious gourmet foods, a home and garden area, and an entertaining children’s play area.

WHERE: Burlingame Avenue, located in the heart of the village-like downtown area of Burlingame, California, is 15 minutes south of San Francisco in San Mateo County. Take CalTrain to the Burlingame Train Station, or take advantage of convenient public parking.

Via Press Release: HOME, GARDEN & GREEN EXHIBIT SHOWCASES SUSTAINABLE TALENT

In 2008, The Burlingame Art and Jazz Festival showcased its first “Home, Garden & Green” section and received such an overwhelming response that it will once again feature the display showcasing sustainable local businesses at this year’s event, happening August 8^th and 9^th on Burlingame Avenue. Each product or service in this section was hand-picked because of their unique, green product or service, and range from organic produce delivery and sustainable clothing to green interior design and technologies.

For more information, click here. The festival is presented by the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce.

Free Drink at Peet's Coffee

Relax at your local Peet's Coffee with a free drink in your hand.

Visit your local Peet’s on Friday, August 7 from 2 to 3 p.m and enjoy a FREE Coffee Freddo.

Enjoy the rich taste of freshly brewed coffee, creamy milk and natural ingredients, perfectly blended with ice. Find a Peet's store near you.

www.peets.com

Oakland Lakefest 2009

The Oakland Lakefest takes place August 1 and 2 at Lake Merritt in Oakland from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Green Living Expo
Green exhibitors are businesses and non-profits whose products and services cover a range of market sectors and sub-sectors, such as: Green building supplies, socially responsible investing and "green stocks", eco-tourism and more. Brand your company as a leader in the “green” movement by sponsoring the Green Living Expo.

Lakefest Main Stage
Located at the Trestle Glen intersection, the main music stage will feature quality performances by well-known Bay Area musicians.

Kid’s Fun Zone
Located on the Mandana side of the festival, the kid’s fun zone will feature giant bounce houses, slides, train rides, interactive games, face painting, jugglers, vendors geared towards families and children. As the sponsor of this area your company name will be listed on a banner at the entrance to the Kid’s Fun Zone.

Visit the Web site for more information: http://oaklandlakefest.com

For directions, click here.

Fremont Festival of the Arts

The Fremont Festival of the Arts will be held on August 1 and 2 celebrating its 26 year. There will be hundreds of art & crafts vendors, music, street entertainers, children's entertainment, food, wine and beer.

Features:

• Kid City
• Joyce Twomey Memorial Wine Garden sponsored by GROCO
• Three stages of entertainment
• Business Alley
• Gourmet Marketplace
• Green Acres - Green Living for Tomorrow
• 32 different food booths
• 600 arts and crafts vendors
• Cool beers on tap
• Wines from around the world and from around the corner

Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m
Date: Sat & Sun, Aug 1-2, 2009

Located at: Paseo Padre Parkway between Mowry Ave and Walnut Street. It is within walking distance from the Fremont BART so take public transportation.

Visit the Web site for more information: www.fremontfestival.net

See The Offspring Live In Concert

On Friday, July 31 see The Offspring live in concert at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco brought to you by Samsung and AT&T. This hour-long performance is free but you do need to order tickets.

The show starts at 8 p.m. The Warfield is located at 982 Market Street in San Francisco.

Go to the Web site here and then follow directions from there to order tickets.

Free Concert at The Saddle Rack

If you haven't attended a country concert yet this summer, here's one with free admission:

Who: Megan Mullins, Broken Bow Records recording artist
What: live country concert
Where: The Saddle Rack 42011 Boscell Road, Fremont, CA
When: Wednesday, July 29

Doors open at 7 p.m. Concert begins at 9 p.m.

Visit The Saddle Rack Web site.

San Francisco Aloha Festival

The San Francisco Aloha Festival, an annual festival of arts with the Pacific Islanders of the San Francisco Bay Area showcasing their music and dance talents.

"The festival will also feature arts and crafts vendors, island cuisine, educational exhibits and workshops, and an `Ohana Korner with simple games for the kids!"

The two-day event is in its 15th year and is held the first full weekend of every August. Free admission and it is an alcohol-free event.

Where: San Francisco Presidio Main Post/Parade Grounds
When: Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2
Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Please visit the Web site for more information.

Santa Clara County Fair

The upcoming Santa Clara County Fair has free parking and free admission! The fair is open daily from 10am-8pm July 30 through August 2 and will take place at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

For more information, visit the Web site at thefair.org

Learn CPR This August

Sports Basement provides free CPR and AED classes at the Sunnyvale location.

Classes are offered the first and third Thursday and the second and forth Monday of every month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. excluding holidays.

How to sign up:
E-mail sb.cpr.sunnyvale@sportbasement.com with the date you would like to attend and the following information:
-Name
-E-mail
-Phone
-Address

Space is limited to 15 people per class.

Visit the Web site for more information.

Genealogy for Beginners

Spotted on Yelp.com:

Trace and compile your family history at Northern California's premier genealogy society library. Volunteer members are available to help you use our extensive library and online databases. Bring information about an ancestor's family and we will help you find them in the 1920 or 1930 census.

Everyone is welcome the first Saturday of the month. Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Join us for a FREE Beginner's Genealogy Class every FIRST SATURDAY of the MONTH at 11:00 a.m. The library will be closed July 4, 2009 for the Independence Day holiday. The next FREE Beginner's Class will be held on August 1 and will be taught by Tim Cox.

For current information, visit the CGSL blog.

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The Fillmore Summer Concert and Film Series

The Fillmore Summer Concert and Film Series is going on now! Thursday evenings begin with community group performances at 7pm, followed by the film at 8pm.

The films and performances this year are:

• Thursday, June 25th
  7:00pm: – The Village Project
  8:00pm: – THE TRANSFORMERS
• Thursday, July 2nd
  7:00pm: – Larkin’s BuKiDo Kai Karate Demonstrations
  8:00pm: – DIRTY DANCING
• Thursday, July 23rd
  7:00pm – Fillmore Fashion Show
  8:00pm: – MONSTERS, INC.
• Thursday, August 6th
  7:00pm – Handful Players
  8:00pm: – AKEELAH AND THE BEE
• Thursday, August 20th
  7:00pm – Infin8Sync: Independent Artists Group/BYOA
  8:00pm: – IRONMAN

Friday evening concerts go from 6-7:30pm. The summer 2009 music lineup:

• Friday, June 19th Louie Romnero Y Su Grupo Mazacote (salsa)
• Friday, July 3rd Bobbie Webb (blues)
• Friday, July 17th Vintage Music Collective (reggae/soul)
• Friday, July 31st Carlito Del Sol & America (salsa)
• Friday, August 14th Sila and the Afro Funk Experience (funk)

For more information, click here.

Renegade Craft Fair

Back for the second year, the Renegade Craft Fair will be held this weekend at Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion. On Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, head to the "FREE urban art, craft and DIY extravaganza."

If you are a fan of Etsy.com and like shopping for original artwork, clothing, jewelry, accessories, greeting cards, stationary, concert posters, notebooks, trinkets... etc., you need to attend this event and support local artists and designers in addition to the artists who have been traveling across the country to sell their handmade goods.

In addition to food and drinks from local restaurants there will be a photo-booth to take free pictures, a craft workshop and raffles! To look at this year's artists click here. Don't forget to peek through the book "Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design" at the Renegade Craft Welcome Station.

At last summer's Renegade Craft Fair, I made some excellent purchases like an adorable wristlet purse by Blissful and two City of Series t-shirts by Campfire.

Saturday and Sunday from 11am-7pm. Click here for parking and directions.

Ben and Jerry's Flipped Out! Free Samples in SF

Pardon my blogging absence. I am now back in business giving you free things to do in the Bay Area.

Come try a FREE SAMPLE of the latest Ben and Jerry's invention, Flipped Out! An un-flipping-describable ice cream innovation is on a cross-country tour and wants you to be one of the first to try it.

Free samples will be distributed for four days across San Francisco:

• Union Square on Saturday, July 18
• Golden Gate Park on Sunday, July 19
• Justin Herman Plaza on Monday and Tuesday, July 20 and 21

Burlingame Pez Museum

It's been about 5 or 6 years since I've been to the Pez Museum in Burlingame so I am sure new dispensers have been added. The museum is really cool and we all remember the hundreds of different Pez characters; I even had my own collection when I was younger.

Now is your time to check out the Pez Museum- you will be amazed at how much memorabilia there is and you can find out about the history of the Pez.

Free admission to the museum the first Thursday of every month. Located at 214 California Drive in Burlingame.

For more information about the museum, click here.

Sounds on the Row

Santana Row in San Jose will be featuring free summer music performances each Thursday night at 7 p.m. It will take place at Park Valencia.

Performance Schedule:
June 18 Ray Soto (Latin/Jazz guitarist)
June 25 Kurt Anderson and Danny Hull (Classic standards and jazz)
July 2 Miena Yoo (contemporary compositions)
July 9 Kevin Kooyumjian (Jazz and other standards)
July 16 Kristina Sablan (singer/songwriter) with Darren Anderson and Travis Hogue (acoustic guitar duo)
July 23 Jonah (original R&B)
July 30 Fred McCarty (Adult Contemporary)

Visit the Web site at www.santanarow.com/events/

Stern Grove Festival

The season begins June 21 and runs through August 23 on Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Location: Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Ave. & Sloat, San Francisco

Admission: Free

Stern Grove Festival is San Francisco's celebration of community, nature, and the arts.

Every summer, Stern Grove Festival brings world-class performing arts to you, admission-free, in one of the country's most beautiful and unique natural settings.

Year after year, summer after summer, this is YOUR Festival!

2009 Lineup:
June 21 Roberta Flack (R&B)
June 28 Les Nubians (R&B/Jazz) / Rupa and the April Fishes (Folk Rock/Latin/Fusion)
July 5 San Francisco Symphony
July 12 Joan Baez (Folk) / Blame Sally (Folk/Pop)
July 19 Sergent Garcia (Hip Hop/Reggae/Salsa) / Curumin (Samba/Soul/Dub)
July 26 The Lyrics Born Revue (Hip Hop/Funk/Alternative) / The Mighty Underdogs (Hip Hop)
August 2 Kailash Kher Kailasa (Sufi Folk/Modern Rock) / Delhi 2 Dublin (Celtic-Indian Fusion)
August 9 Toto La Momposina (Colombian/Afro-Latin) / Nation Beat (Afro-Brazilian)
August 16 San Francisco Ballet
August 23 San Francisco Opera


www.sterngrove.org

Alice's Summerthing

Radio station Alice at 97.3 puts on a free show annually in Golden Gate Park. This year's concert will be held on Sunday, June 21 at Speedway Meadow from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. This show is free so no tickets are needed. For more information, visit Radio Alice's Web site.

Musical performances by:

• Gavin Rossdale
  
• Sugar Ray
• Matt Nathanson
• Parachute

SF Bicycle Music Festival

On June 20, check out this fabulous FREE event:

BMF San Francisco will take place over three venues across the city and include live on-bike music parading (and transporting all equipment, musicians, fans & fun) between venues.

About the Bicycle Music Festival

The Mission of the Bicycle Music Festival is to promote sustainable culture in general and bicycle culture in particular, by physically engaging and immersing our community in the magic of bike culture, and cultivating and nurturing a network of local sustainable musicians, through our staging of free, community participatory, bicycle-based music events.

The Bicycle Music Festival is the largest 100% bicycle-powered music festival in the world. The free, all-day (and late into the night) event takes place annually in San Francisco, California on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice. This year the festival rolls on Saturday June 20, 2009.

The Bicycle Music Festival features: a 2000 watt pedal-powered PA system, as many as 15 bands, up to 7 festival stops, outrageous Critical Mass-style bicycle party caravans between festival stops, and zero use of cars or trucks.

With its completely bike-haulable stage, the event is packed up and deployed numerous times: staged sequentially at different public parks and also on a moving “Live On Bike” stage which rolls down city streets.

Who: You and your bike
What: Bike culture and a good exercise
Where: San Francisco (tba, check Web site)
When: Saturday, June 20.
Why: It looks like fun and it's free

http://bicyclemusicfestival.com

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Friday Night Concerts

Free Friday night concerts at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk from June 19 through September 4. Two free shows each Friday from 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the Beach Bandstand.

2009 Concert Season Line Up:
June 19 The Fixx "One Thing Leads to Another"
June 26 Gregg Rolie, Santana original lead singer "Black Magic Woman"
July 3 The Smithereens "A Girl Like You"
July 10 Loverboy "Working for the Weekend"
July 17 Starship starring Mickey Thomas "We Built This City"
July 24 Eddie Money "Take Me Home Tonight"
July 31 Ray Parker Jr. "Ghostbusters"
August 7 Greg Kihn Band "Jeopardy"
August 14 Papa Doo Run Run "Santa Cruz" Beach Party
August 21 Patty Smyth and Scandal "The Warrior"
August 28 The Sweet "Ballroom Blitz"
September 4 The Tubes featuring Fee Waybill "She's a Beauty"

ESCAPE from Alcatraz & a Festival and Expo

This Saturday, June 14, head to San Francisco to watch as Olympic Medalists and triathletes compete to ESCAPE from Alcatraz. The 2009 triathlon features a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the beach of the St. Francis Yacht Club, an 18-mile bike ride and an 8-mile run through the trails of the Golden Gate Recreational Area.

There will also be a free Fitness Festival & Expo on Saturday and Sunday located at Marina Green, the finish line of the Triathlon. The 15th annual Fitness Festival & Expo takes place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. with over 40 vendor booths.

The two-day festival offers:

• sampling
• product giveaways
• product displays
• sweepstakes and other promotions
• a food court
• beer garden
• experiential vendor displays

For more information, visit the Web site at www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com

Haight-Ashbury Street Fair

Get your hippie on at the annual Haight-Ashbury Street Fair on Sunday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will be live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, food and a children's area.

In it's 32nd year, the event continues to commemorate the internationally recognized Haight-Ashbury District's cultural history and diversity.


Visit the Web site for more information:

www.haightashburystreetfair.org

North Beach Festival

This Saturday and Sunday, head over to North Beach in the city for the 55th annual North Beach Festival. The festival will be held at Washington Square Park, June 13 and 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As with most festivals, there will be live music and arts and crafts. The San Francisco festival will also have a celebrity pizza toss, animal blessings, a cooking stage and Italian street chalk art.

Ride public transit or carpool. Validated parking offered.

Check out the North Beach Festival Web site for more details.

San Jose Music in the Park

Free concert series in downtown San Jose. Every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at Plaza de Cesar Chavez (Market Street between San Fernando and San Carlos streets).

This year's lineup:
June 4: Evolution (Journey tribute) and Long Gon Bonl (bon-era AC / DC tribute)
June 11: Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars (world / reggae)
June 18: Third Eye Blind (alternative rock); supported by Pilot Speed playing a full set
June 25: Pete Escovedo (latin jazz)
July 2: The Tubes (classic rock)
July 9: Eek-A-Mouse (reggae)
July 16: Pato Banton (reggae)
July 23: Matt Nathanson (pop / rock); supported by MiGGs
July 30: Colin Hay of Men at Work (pop)
August 6: Anthony David (R&B)
August 13: Better Than Ezra (pop / rock)
August 20: Sonny Landreth (blues / rock)
August 27: White Album Ensemble (Beatles tribute)

For more information: http://www.sjdowntown.com/Music_in_the_Park.html

Sunday Streets San Francisco

On Sunday, June 7 be on Mission Street in San Francisco for Sunday Streets. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and there is A LOT being offered. Take advantage of this fun and free day. Volunteer positions are also available.

Event Centerplace: Garfield Square Park, 26th & Harrison Street
Free bike rentals provided by Bike & Roll
Sports Basement ‘Lube Fairies’- free basic bike maintenance and information
Sunday Streets main information table and media check-in
Sunday Streets Sponsor booths
Community Based Organization information booths
Lacrosse demonstration- come learn to play with Lacrosse for Life
Free Sports Consultations presented by California Pacific Medical Center
Bookmobile, presented by the San Francisco Public Library
Pet services and information- find out about adoptions and other pet services

Bike & Roll info box
Bay City Bike Rental and Tours info box

Kid’s Activities: Garfield Square Park
Presented Mission YMCA
Heroix 4 Kids
It’s Yoga Kids!
Hula Hoops, obstacle course, and kid’s games, presented by the Mission YMCA
Kid’s bike programs, presented by the Presidio YMCA Bike Program and SFBC

Cultural Programming: Shotwell and 24th Street or Precita Eyes Visitor Center
Presented by Mission Cultural Center
Aztec Dance Demonstration
Altars
Guided mural tour by Precita Eyes Mural Arts, 11:00 AM (meet at 2981 24th St)

Roller Skating: Capp and 24th Street parking lot
Presented by David Miles- the ‘Godfather of Skate’, the California Outdoor Rollersports Association
Free skating lessons from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Roller rink (over 100 roller skates available for free use, while supplies last)
RollerSoccer hourly demos - RollerSoccer International Federation and SoccerHead
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ skate dance demo- 1:00 – 1:30 P.M.
Thriller skate dance demo - 1:30 – 1:45 P.M.

Dance: 24th BART Plaza (south west corner).
Presented by Rhythm & Motion /ODC and Cheryl Burke Dance Studio
Dance Class Schedule:
East Coast Swing: 10 - 10:30 A.M.
Salsa: 10:45 - 11:15 A.M.
Belly Dance: 11:30 - 12 Noon
Salsa Rueda: 12:15 - 12:45 P.M.
Urban Dance: 1 - 1:30 P.M.
Flamenco: 1:30-2 P.M.

Bike: Various locations:
Presented by the Presidio Community YMCA Bike Program and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
150 free bike rentals by
Bike & Roll (Garfield Square Park)
Bay City Bike Rentals and Tours (Mission Playground)
Bike & Roll’s ‘fun bike’, a bicycle built for six!
Sports Basement “Lube Fairies” (Garfield Square Park)
Youth Bike Rodeo by Presidio Community YMCA (Harrison and 24th Street )
SFBC’s Freedom From Training Wheels (Shotwell and 24th Street/Garfield Square Park)

Mission Playground: Valencia at Cunningham Alley/ 19th Street; Various activities
Free Bike Rentals, offered by Bay City Bike Rentals and Tours (Valencia St.)
Sponsor information booths
Yoga and Martial Arts Programs, TBA (19th Street)

Visit http://sundaystreetssf.com for more information.

Sunday Streets connects residents to San Francisco’s neighborhoods. It brings open space to communities, filling local corridors with healthy free activities, and demonstrates the benefits of increasing open space and recreational opportunities within our City. The event helps create healthier, more connected communities. Sunday Streets is healthy living, happy people, and a greener planet. Come out and play!

How cool does all this sound?!

Sunnyvale Art and Wine Festival

If you are in the South Bay this weekend, head over to downtown Sunnyvale June 6 and 7 for the 35th annual Sunnyvale Art and Wine Festival. The festival will be held from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday and will feature live entertainment, food, children's area, NASA display, wine, local microbreweries, classic car show and over five hundred artists and craftspeople. With the chance of sunny weather this weekend, don't miss out.

Location: Historic Downtown Sunnyvale on South Sunnyvale Avenue and Washington Avenue.

Web site

Silicon Valley Soap Box Derby

Ever been to a soap box derby? Well here's your chance to say you did. This Saturday, the Silicon Valley Soap Box Derby starts at 9 a.m. at Dana Street in Mountain View. Free to watch! For more information, visit http://svsbd.com.

Schedule:

• 9 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
• 9:30 Mayor's Cup Challenge
• 10 a.m. Stock and Super Stock Racing Begins
• 12 Noon Super Kids Race
• 6 p.m. Awards Ceremony
  

Israel in the Gardens Festival

This Sunday, June 7, visit Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco for the Israel in the Gardens Festival to celebrate the Jewish community. There will be music, film, resource tables, ethnic foods, and jewelry, clothing and craft booths. The festival is located on Mission between 3rd and 4th Street and runs from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more information about the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, click here. Take BART to the festival and get off at the Powell or Montgomery Street stations.

Union Street Festival

San Francisco's Union Street Festival is happening Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7. The festival takes place across six blocks from Gough to Steiner and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be arts and crafts booths, food and live performances.

There will be an eco-zone with two blocks saved for green businesses and exhibits. The festival is in its 33rd year.

For more information, visit the event's Web site at: www.unionstreetfestival.com

Free Day at SFMOMA Tomorrow!

The first Tuesday of each month, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art offers free admission. If you're in the city tomorrow and have some free time, take advantage of this free opportunity to see some incredible exhibits.

Museum's Web site: www.sfmoma.org

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art 151 3rd Street in San Francisco.

6th Annual Berkeley World Music Festival

On Saturday, June 6, the 6th annual Berkeley World Music Festival will be held on Telegraph Avenue from noon to 9 p.m. Listen to live music outdoors and inside cafes. Visit the festival Web site for more information.

Rock the Bike to Maker Faire

Come to the First Annual Dolores Park to Maker Faire social ride.

Meeting at 8:30AM and departing at 9:00, the ride is about 19 miles over mostly flat terrain, and we will take a leisurely pace, cruising with great music on our party bikes.

We'll arrive at Maker Faire at approximately 11AM, plenty of time to set up our Pedal Powered Stage for the first band of the day.

The bike ride is free and although the Maker Faire isn't, they are offering a discount for those who participate in the ride.

For more information, go to http://rockthebike.com/

Berkeley Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival

The 13th annual Berkeley Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival is this Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eat chocolate, look at the chalk artwork or make your own on North Shattuck Avenue.

From the Web site:

With no fees to artists, areas of sidewalk will be assigned to participants to create their own fanciful chalk drawings. A CHALK ART CONTEST for the best drawing will be judged after 4 p.m. Winners will be notified the following day. First prize is $250 with $50 gift certificates awarded for runners up. Same-day registration takes place 10AM-5PM in event booths located along North Shattuck Ave. Artist's chalk is available for a fee.

www.chocolateandchalkart.com

This Sunday: Union Design Festival in San Francisco

The Union Design Festival is happening this Sunday, May 31 at Hayes Valley Park (Octavia and Hayes Streets) in San Francisco. There will be 130 designers selling clothing, accessories, textiles and paper goods. The festival begins at 11:00 a.m. and goes until 6:00 p.m. Most importantly, it's free to attend.

According to the Web site:

All designers are screened based on quality, originality, and cleverness. It really is one of the sweetest events in SF.

For more information, click here.

Left Coast Live Festival: Film Tonight in Downtown San Jose

Going on now, Left Coast Live is a week-long music event held in San Jose. This evening, head over to the Circle of Palms and watch the film "Before the Music Dies." Gates open at 7 p.m. and bring chairs or blankets. Did I mention the screening is free?

For more information, check out the festival's Web site: www.leftcoastlive.com

Be a Bystander at Bay to Breakers

This Sunday, experience San Francisco's finest: Bay to Breakers. Every year, the race is run by an unusual crowd of characters. There are the serious runners and athletes, the naked, the costumed and more! You have to see it to believe it.

This year, against strong community protest, the tradition lives on and drinking, nudity and floats WILL be allowed. If you haven't registered to run, at least head down to the city and watch. Be sure to look out for a special group of bananas and gorillas (Ashley and friends).

The race is 7.46 miles and begins at 8 a.m. the Embarcadero (Bay) and ends at Hayes Street Hill (the Breakers). For a detailed map of the race course, click here. This is a "Leave no trace" event so please pick up after yourselves!

To check out the official Bay to Breakers Web site, go to www.baytobreakers.com

Take Mom to the San Jose Museum of Art

This Mother's Day, May 10, the San Jose Museum of Art will be celebrating it's 40th anniversary with free admission. The Prints of Andy Warhol Exhibit is currently showing at the museum and has received some press. The exhibit ends May 31.

The museum will be open from 11am-5pm on Community Day and will have fun activities with music and dance entertainment.

The San Jose Museum of Art is located at 110 South Market Street in downtown San Jose.

Free activities during the Bay Area National Dance Week

Going on right now, the Bay Area National Dance Week is offering free activities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For information and locations of the events, go to www.bayareandw.org

Dates: April 24-May 3, 2009

Stanford Cool Product Expo

The Stanford Cool Product Expo is a free event to check out "cool" products. The event is this Wednesday, April 8, from 12-6 at the Stanford Arrilaga Alumni Center at Stanford University.

Check out the Web site at: http://cpx.stanford.edu

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

Celebrate the 42nd Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 11 & 12 and the 18 & 19 in San Francisco. The parade will be held on Sunday the 19th and will begin at the Civic Center at 1 p.m. This year's Grand Marshal is actor and activist George Takei, famously known for his character on television show, Star Trek.

The festival is free to attend and will feature entertainment areas with Japanese dancers and drummers and feature martial arts performances, an arts and crafts fair and a children’s area. Traditional Japanese food will also be available at the street fair.

The Japanese American Community event attracts over 200,000 attendees each year.

For more information visit the NCCBF Web site.

Livin' Local in Palo Alto

Livin' Local is the theme of this year's Earth Day Celebration in the city of Palo Alto on April 18 at the Lucie Stern Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival will feature local and organic food, speakers, a climbing wall, recycled arts and crafts, live music and more. There will be booths from local nonprofit and community groups and for profit environmental and community services, as well as Palo Alto public agencies.

Celebration located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto.

For more information, click here.

Easter Day Parade

On April 12, the 18th annual Spring Celebration and Easter Day Parade will take place on Union Street between Gough & Fillmore Street in San Francisco. The parade begins at 2 p.m. It will be a great event for the whole family, but especially for the little ones.

The Spring Celebration will feature:

• Petting zoo
• Easter Bunnies
• Bounce houses
• Pony Rides
• Activity area
  

For more information, click here.

Ever been to the Exploratorium?

The Exploratorium, located at the Palace of Fine Arts, offers free admission into the interactive museum the first Wednesday of each month.

This Wednesday, April 1, check out the dissection of a cow's eye, look at the muscle cells of a roundworm at the Microscopic Imaging Station or get a better understanding of your sense of sound through the Listen: Making Sense of Sound collections.

You can also rely only on your sense of touch in complete darkness in the Tactile Dome. Or even explore the Mind collection, which showcases over "40 new interactive exhibits that let you experiment with your own cognitive processes and emotional experiences- often in proactive and unexpected ways," described on the Mind Web site.

The Exploratorium, the museum of science, art and human perception is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 3601 Lyon Street in San Francisco.

Visit the Web site at: www.exploratorium.edu

Calculate your carbon footprint

With Earth Day approaching in the next few weeks, are you aware of the impact you have on the earth? Here's a few Web sites that can give you an idea of how many greenhouse gases your activities give off. Calculate your carbon footprint.

• Cool It Campaign
• Carbon Footprint
• EPA Household Emissions Calculator
• Berkeley Institute of the Environment: Cool Climate
  

Upset by the results? Do something about it:

• sfenvironment.org
• PG&E Climate Smart
• Live Green
• Conservation International
• The Green Guide
• Sierra Club
  

St. Patty's Day Parade and Festival

Head to San Francisco for the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival this Saturday, March 14th. For over 150 years, San Francisco has held one of the oldest-running Saint Patrick's Day parades in the United States. The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Second and Market.

There will be free admission to the Civic Center Plaza to celebrate the Irish culture in the city by the bay and learn more about the Irish heritage. There will be food, music, arts and crafts and entertainment at the festival beginning at 10:30 a.m. Don't forget to wear green and keep an eye out for green beer!

For more information, go to:
http://www.sresproductions.com/sfstpatricksday.html
http://www.sfstpatricksdayparade.com/

Clam Chowder Cook-off

Head to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Saturday, February 21, to watch clam chowder cooks compete for the title of THE BEST CLAM CHOWDER. Amateurs and professional chefs will cook up their Manhattan and New England chowder.

Cooking begins at 10 a.m. and tasting for the public is at 1 p.m.

Admission is free but if you'd like to do some taste-testing for yourself, there is a fee of $8 for a tasting kit. From what I hear though, it's a lot of fun to watch the chefs at work.

Money raised from the cook off will go towards the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information, visit: www.beachboardwalk.com/clamchowder

Attend an open-mic night

Open mic nights bring all sorts of people together. There are the performers, the regulars, the not-so-regulars, the randoms who stumbled in, the occasional groupies and sometimes a few hippies. If this mix of people isn't your cup of tea, that sucks because that sounds like a good time to me. Anyways.

Many well-known signers and musicians often played at open mic nights to get themselves heard. You never know. Maybe a few years down the line, that cutie guitar player who performed just around the corner at the local coffee shop might one day be the next Jack Johnson or Tyrone Wells. Or the aspiring songstress might be the next Ingrid Michaelson. You really never know.

I stumbled across this great web site, The Bay Area Open Mic Calendar, which has the names of coffee shops and venues that offer open mic night. Very helpful site to find your possible new hangout.

Who loves guacamole?!

I can't believe that I have never heard of the Guac Off!

This Sunday, February 15, from noon to one, the 4th Annual West Marin Guac Off will be taking place in front of Toby's Feed Farm (11250 Highway One).

If you think you've got the best guacamole around, now's the time to show them what you've got. If you just want to do the tasting, you've got to place a vote for who you think should win as well. No double dipping and no fingers in the guac. Keep it classy.

For more information, click here.

Visit the new Academy of Science

The Academy of Science is located in Golden Gate Park. This San Francisco favorite had a complete makeover and from what I've heard, is looking pretty good. Some of my old favorites are still there, like the T-Rex skeleton and the African hall, while new additions, like the Living Roof and updated technologies and make this museum modern and eco-friendly.

The science museum has free admission every third Wednesday of the month. If you have time off from work or school, I'd definitely head to the Academy of Science and spend some quality time in the Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium, and the Hearst 3-D Theater.

I have yet to go since it was remodeled, but I'll be the first one in line on the third Wednesday in May. School's out. I wonder if they still sell those lollipops with the grasshopper in the middle. Yuck. Brings back memories of truth or dare after a third grade field trip.

The Academy of Science hours are:
Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5:00pm
Sunday 11:00am-5pm

Visit the website at www.calacademy.org

Pillow fight!!!

If you haven't heard yet, the 3rd annual Valentine's Day pillow fight in San Francisco is taking place on the 14th at the Justin Herman Plaza at Market and Embarcadero. When the clock strikes 6 p.m., it's time to bring back the kid in you and hold on tight to your pillow.

Rules apply, of course, so be safe and keep it friendly!

Check out the video below from one bystander's view.

Look for me on Twenty Something Bloggers

Dance and exercises classes for new participants

I am a huge fan of Craigslist! I've had such success from finding roommates to a job, to even selling my Grandma's ancient juicer for 80 bucks; Craigslist has yet to let me down.

Over my winter break, between getting my celeb gossip on TheSuperficial.com and looking at my ever-so-low bank account funds, I browsed Craigslist more than usual and went to the Community section and limited the search to classes. Know what I found? Many dance and exercise studios offer a free class to first timers. I already took a boxing class for free online. Unfortunately it was too hardcore for me so I didn't go back, but I got a good workout that kept me aching for days.

Take advantage of free exercise and dance classes.

Check out the sea lions in Santa Cruz

My friend Ashley and I were in Santa Cruz this weekend for a concert and decided to stroll down the SC pier. What do we hear? Sea lions. A lot of sea lions. They're such funny creatures. They were all sleeping on top of each other and simply being lazy. Then, when one decided nap time was over, they'd shimmy over the top of the others. This did not fly with a select few who began barking and snapping at the one that disturbed their sleep. Very entertaining, at least for a few minutes.

To find out more about the wharf in Santa Cruz click here.

What's The Big Idea? Night Party

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco is having a big party on January 31st. Free admission, free pizza, free Honest Tea, live music, palm readings, tarot cards, cash cocktail bar, and more! The YBCA Grand Lobby and Galleries is located at 701 Mission Street. Party goes from 9-midnight.

RSVP to get in early by clicking here.

Check out the YBCA web site for more info.

The story behind the party:

YBCA looks to artists for compelling new works that pose questions and inspire exploration. As common themes arise between these works, YBCA then identifies the year’s Big Ideas. YBCA’s free What the Big Idea? Parties bring San Francisco together to celebrate artistic innovation through dancing, art making, music, food and drink. -- YBCA web site

Try yoga and pilates

Reformation Studio in San Jose is hosting their Community Week right now with free yoga and pilates classes through Saturday, January 24. This is a really good deal (the drop-in fee for a class is usually $18). Only 2 days left of the promotion; take advantage of it.

The studio has been voted "Best Pilates & Yoga Studio in Silicon Valley" by Metro Newspaper.

Reformation Studio is located at 33 Las Colinas Lane off of 85-S in south San Jose.

Donate blood

If you can handle needles and are physically healthy, giving blood is truly a gift that you can give to others.

I've gone twice now and have been rejected twice because I don't have enough iron. However, I am not going to give up! The Red Cross website says that most people that are turned down to donate blood are turned down because of temporary reasons, like not enough iron, sometimes due to what you've had to eat the last few days.

Giving blood is also VERY safe. The needles and bags are never re-used. The staff asks you questions but are all kept confidential.

Plus, I've noticed everyone is so friendly! If you're having a bad day and need to be around happy people, go give blood and chat it up with the receptionist. She'll probably ask if you'd like some water. They're so nice.

Go to Givelife.org to find a location near you.

Volunteer for something you feel passionately about

It's free for you, you help others, and it's one more thing to add to your resume. In this kind of economy, anything that sets you apart from other applicants will be your key to getting that interview.

When I was going to school in Santa Barbara, there was a volunteer organization called Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter (B.U.N.S.), which cares for abandoned rabbits that I worked at with a friend. I love animals, but there was no way I could have a pet, let alone a bunny in Isla Vista, a college party town. In order to get my pet 'fix', I helped out once a week and cleaned cages, let the bunnies out to play, feed them, and of course cuddle them! Not only did I LOVE hanging out with the bunnies, but I also helped for the sake of helping. Whether you want to find your own bunny shelter or maybe help at a local food bank, volunteers are almost always welcome.

Some suggestions:

• Craigslist has a volunteers section under 'Community'
• Second Harvest Foodbank
• Project Open Hand
• SPCA
• The Red Cross
• American Cancer Society
• Meals on Wheels
  
• Senior Centers
• Upcoming film festivals
• Libraries
• Hospitals
• Volunteer opportunities in San Jose
  

Hiking is free (Surprised?)

California has some amazing hiking spots, especially in the Bay Area. If you do a search on Google, you can find lists of hiking areas around the Bay and in the Santa Cruz mountains.

The last hike I went on was a few months ago on Montara Ridge in Pacifica, but I actually hope to get a hike in more often this spring and get a little adventurous on the trails I choose. Going to the gym and hitting the elliptical just doesn't compare to good old-fashioned hike.

In the great out doors, you can:

+ strengthen in your leg muscles
+ enjoy the scenery
+ it can be a fun date
+ have a relaxing day away from cars and work
+ get exercise
+ explore
+ take beautiful pictures

Did you know that there are hiking clubs and groups? Craigslist posts often offer hikers looking for hiking buddies so if you can't drag some of your friends along, try finding a club or group.

A fellow classmate in my fall new media class created a blog about hiking areas in the east bay. Feel free to visit his blog, Trailblazers.

Take your dog for a walk at Ocean Beach

Every Saturday at 10am, dog owners bring their furry friends to Ocean Beach in San Francisco to get some exercise and have some fun.

ForTheDogs.net is the online headquarter for the dog owners. They indicate their is no need to register or reply that you are coming, just show up and follow their rules.

The dog walkers ask that if you would like to come walk with them, that you follow the guidelines they've established:

* No commercial interests - no selling or promoting.

* Healthy dogs under 20 lbs. (if you also have a big dog, only bring the small one)
* any breed or mix of breeds
* dogs that go off-leash
* gentle dogs that are NEVER aggressive toward other dogs or people
* fixed and non-fixed dogs (but no females during their heat)
* dogs that don't bark incessantly at people or other dogs
* dogs that aren't obsessed with humping (other dogs or people)

* No aggressive behavior.
* No leashes (no exceptions!).
* No treats, balls, or toys.
* No poop left behind.
* Be considerate of people - especially kids (e.g., keep dogs away from picnics, off blankets & towels, and away from kids & sandcastles).
* Share the beach wisely with big dogs.
* Please keep walking.
* Keep an eye on your dog(s). We haven't lost any dogs, but they do get separated from their people in the big crowd, which makes them very uneasy... sometimes causes panic (for the dogs and the people).
* Keep an eye on all of our little creatures. Some are new at being off-leash or in a crowd and need extra attention.
* Just down-to-earth dog play. If you're a dog expert of some kind, please come but don't wear your "expert" hat.

It's always nice to have a change of scenery and walking your dog at Ocean Beach might be a little different to your normal route. You'll meet other dog lovers and get a walk in while your pet plays.

For more information, go to www.ForTheDogs.net