This weekend brings two festivals that celebrate the essence and character of North Beach culture.
Before that, though, the annual Oktoberfest block party at Schroeder's (240 Front St.) in the FiDi kicks off Friday. Bavarian food and booze, along with folk dancing and the typical holiday revelry, will be on display. Entry is free (booze and food not so much)—expect a crowd, because when else is drinking freely from beer steins socially acceptable?
On Saturday, the ninth annual Beat Museum Poetry Festival kicks off at 1pm at the Beat Museum (540 Broadway). This year's celebration of North Beach's beatnik past includes more than 30 poets, including series founder Leigh Lubin, with plenty of other surprises along the way. The event is free and runs through Sunday evening.
Also on Saturday, the 28th annual Sea Music Concert Series returns to the Hyde Street Pier, at 8pm. The series, which takes place aboard the historic 1886 ship Balclutha, will run through October. It kicks off with a performance by musicians Diana Gameros and Maria Jose Montijo, who will sing about the sea, inspired by contemporary music traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean. Tickets range from $12-$14.
If that gets you in the maritime mood, California Coastal Cleanup Day also runs this weekend, giving you the chance to pitch in on clean-up and restoration efforts around the Bay. The areas closest to North Beach are booked up, but check the event website for parks and beaches that could use an extra pair of hands.
In local news this week, the city is considering forcing drivers to purchase a ticket to clamp down on congestion on Lombard's "crooked" section, and North Beach is one of the city neighborhoods where health care chains are starting to move in.
Now, on to our editor's picks for the days ahead. For a full list of what's going on around town this weekend and beyond, don't forget to check our hoodline.com/events. If you see a local event missing and want to get in on the fun, submit it for free for the chance to see it featured in our next events roundup.