Inner Sunset Weekend: Turner At The de Young, Best Vistas For Fireworks, And More

Inner Sunset Weekend: Turner At The de Young, Best Vistas For Fireworks, And MoreGrand View Park. (Photo: Eugene Kim/Flickr)
Walter Thompson
Published on July 03, 2015

Aside from Fourth of July festivities and Golden Gate Park cookouts, the Inner Sunset should be fairly quiet this weekend. If you're looking for the best ways to spend your time in the neighborhood, here's what's on tap for Saturday in particular (know of any Sunday events? Let us know in the comments). 

J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free, de Young Family Museum

If you enjoy fireworks, odds are good that you'll also appreciate the work of English painter J.M.W. Turner. Best known for his innovative use of light to create drama and dynamism, this exhibition draws from Turner's late period to present a comprehensive look at "some of his most iconic work."

Exhibition tickets cost $25 on July 4th for adults, but admission includes access to the entire deYoung Museum, as well as same-day admission to the Legion of Honor.

"Venice: Santa Maria della Salute, Night Scene with Rockets," 1840 (via Tate Museum)

Golden Gate Park Band

At 1pm, the Golden Gate Park Band will celebrate America's founding with a patriotic setlist. There's plenty of seating at the Spreckels Temple of Music bandshell, and admission is free. If past years are any prediction, be sure to stick around for a rousing rendition of "Stars And Stripes Forever."

Where to watch the fireworks

You can take the N-Judah to Embarcadero to watch the fireworks at Pier 39 tomorrow night at 9:30pm, but why not find a vantage point closer to home? Inclined neighborhoods like Ashbury Heights and Golden Gate Heights offer views from the sidewalk, but if you're willing to climb one of the neighborhoods's tallest hills, you may be able to see fireworks displays from the East Bay.

Note: Officially, parks close after dark, but police don't traditionally enforce that rule when it comes to watching the fireworks.

Tank Hill Park: Even at an elevation of 587 feet, direct sightlines to Pier 39 are partially obscured from Tank Hill Park, but don't worry: most fireworks don't explode until they reach 1000 feet or higher, so you'll be able to take in the show. Unless it's foggy, of course.

Tank Hill is a steep but manageable hike from Cole Valley. Starting from Carl and Shrader, walk uphill and bear right on Belgrave Avenue, which leads to a rocky path that will take you to one of San Francisco's best vistas. If your smartphone has a flashlight feature, all the better.

Drivers may find limited parking near 192 Twin Peaks Blvd., which is next to a public stairway that leads directly to the top of the hill. Alternately, Muni's 37 and 33 lines stop near Clayton & Carmel, a short walk away. Named for the waterworks that once stood on the paved area, Tank Hill is a popular viewing point, so get there early to stake out a spot.

Grand View Park: With a 360-degree perspective that encompasses the Financial District and Ocean Beach, Grand View Park is farther from the action, but high enough (666 feet) to let you take in the show on the waterfront. (Again, unless it's foggy. Plan toress warmly.

Giant blooming Agave americanus

As we noted yesterday, you can visit the impressive Agave americanus plant that's now blooming near 12th Avenue and Judah Street. Eighteen years ago, this plant would have fit on a windowsill, but today, its flowering stalk is higher than nearby utility lines. The fact that it's blooming suggests that this plant is near the end of its life, so take your selfies soon.