Inner Sunset Weekend: SF Marathon, A Beatles Sing-Along And More

Inner Sunset Weekend: SF Marathon, A Beatles Sing-Along And MorePhoto: Toby Silver/Flickr
Caitlin Harrington
Published on July 24, 2015

There's lots to keep you entertained, educated, and in shape in the Inner Sunset this weekend, and well into next week.

But first, we've got some road closures to notify you about. On Sunday morning, the San Francisco Marathon will make its way through Golden Gate Park. Much of the park will be closed from 5-11:30am, though vehicles can still use 19th Ave./Park Presidio, Kezar Drive and Great Highway to get around. Delays are expected. You can see a map of the route and road closures here.

Friday, July 24th

Fair Trade Bazaar at the deYoung

Shopping aficionados should head to the deYoung Museum's Piazzoni Murals room from 9:30am-8:30pm Friday and 9:30am-4:30 pm Saturday for their fifth annual Fair Trade Bazaar. Global artisans will showcase their wares, including "jewelry, textiles, native handcrafts, and decorative accessories reflecting many of the cultures represented in the museum's collections." Entry is free, and museum members get 10% off purchases.  

In other deYoung news, a new photo exhibit, Willard Worden: Portals of the Past, featuring early-20th-century San Francisco, opens this weekend.

Karolina Waclawiak and Michelle Tea at Green Apple Books

Head over to Green Apple Books on the Park (1231 9th Ave.) tonight at 7:30pm to hear author Michelle Tea conversing with Karolina Waclawiak about Waclawiak's latest book, The Invaders. From Green Apple: "Over the course of a summer in a wealthy Connecticut community, a fortysomething woman and her college-age stepson's lives fall apart in a series of violent shocks."  The book's been praised for its sharp wit, off-kilter tenderness, and its "scathing look at privileged people trapped by their own choices, but unable to imagine an alternative to their misery."

Photo: Green Apple Books

Saturday, July 25th

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Ride and Workshop

The SF Bicycle Coalition has two events set for Golden Gate Park this Saturday. The first, the Paradise Loop Ride, is targeted at advanced beginners, and follows a 35-40 mile loop through Marin County and back. To join in, meet in front of the California Academy of Sciences at 9am.

The second event, Traffic Skills 101-2: On the Road Workshop, is a class in a series aimed at teaching safe biking in traffic. If you've already taken 101-1, you're eligible for the Saturday class, from 10am-4pm. It starts from the Park Police Station, 1899 Waller St. If you're interested in taking 101-1, check here for upcoming sessions.

Orchids in the Park

Peruse and purchase orchids at Orchids in the Park, which will be held at the County Fair Building (Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way) on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. In addition to an eye-catching floral display, raffles and talks by the area's top orchid specialists will be on offer. Admission is $5, $4 for seniors, and free for those 16 and under.

Photo: Vicki DeLoach/Flickr

Dry Summer Gardening Class at Garden for the Environment

"Do you buy plants in the nursery, only to have them die in your garden?" ask the plant pros at Garden for the Environment. If the answer's yes, or if you just want to learn how to choose and care for plants that will survive the drought, visit their free class, Prepping Your Garden for Dry Summers. It's from 10am to noon on Seventh Ave. at Lawton St.

Beatles Choir Volunteer Sing-Along

Every fourth Saturday of the month, the Beatles Choir, which is affiliated with City Church San Francisco, channels the Fab Four for the residents and staff of Laguna Honda Hospital, a nursing and rehab center that serves seniors and adults with disabilities. If you're interested, RSVP here, then head to Laguna Honda's lobby (375 Laguna Honda Blvd.) at 9:30am, dressed in a black shirt, for a pre-sing-along rehearsal. You needn't be a City Church member to attend. 

Photo: City Church SF

Sunday, July 26th

San Francisco Marathon

The 2015 San Francisco Marathon (plus the 5K, half-marathon, and 52.4-mile ultra-marathon) kicks off this Sunday morning. There are plenty of ways to participate from the sidelines, and the marathon website has a handy guide to help you out. One option is to lend your support at an official cheer station. The closest is by the 15-mile mark on MLK Dr. at Metson Rd., just south of Golden Gate Park's polo fields. This one's for early birds, as the race gets underway between 5:30 and 6:30am at the Embarcadero.

The Golden Gate Park Band Plays Disney Favorites

The Golden Gate Park Band's Disney Concert, Part II will feature songs from Frozen, Fantasia, and more. All kids (and kids at heart) are welcome at this free outdoor concert at Spreckles Temple of Music. The music begins at 1pm.

Photo: albedo20/Flickr

Looking ahead to next week, there are two more events around the neighborhood:

Monday, July 27th

Cooking Show at SHARP

Chef and educator Jeanne Snyder will be whipping up some delicious plant-based dishes and talking about the benefits of plant-based cuisine Monday night at SHARP. Attendees of this free talk will leave with a recipe handout and a belly full of samples of Snyder's dishes. The demo starts at 7pm at SHARP's headquarters (1736 9th Ave.), and space is limited to 35 people, so it's first-come, first-served.

Thursday, July 30th

Sunset District History with Lorri Ungaretti

Author and Sunset history expert Lorri Ungaretti will be leading an "armchair tour of Sunset District history" at the SF Public Library's Sunset branch (1305 18th Ave.) on Thursday evening from 7-8pm. "Learn how a sparsely-inhabited area quickly changed from acres of 'inaccessible' sand dunes into thriving neighborhoods." Ms. Ungaretti's books will be available for purchase, and a book signing will follow.

Enjoy the weekend, Inner Sunset residents!