The Bay Area's shelter-in-place order has brought countless events usually held as in-person gatherings online. We're aiming to support local businesses in San Francisco and Oakland by highlighting five of these events each day.
Got a suggestion for an online event based in SF or Oakland? Email our events reporter, Teresa Hammerl.
Here are your SF and Oakland events for Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19. Watch the Cherry Blossom festival online, enjoy a comedy show, or help support the SF Shakespeare festival — all from the comfort of your couch.
2020 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
Usually held in SF's Japantown, for its 53rd edition the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is going online for four hours on both Saturday and Sunday.
"Blossom in place" activities will include an online scavenger hunt, Japanese calligraphy and guitar, and dance performers.
As for food and drink, watch some Japanese sweet making or settle down for a virtual tea ceremony. You can support the festival's vendors by purchasing from many of them online.
When: Saturday, April 18, 12 p.m. & Sunday, April 19, 12 p.m.
How to join: Via Facebook Live
Price: Free
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival annual gala: A Virtual Royal Affair
The SF Shakespeare Festival remains hopeful that Shakespeare in the Park events later this year will still happen as scheduled, but its annual gala has now moved online.
A Virtual Royal Affair will feature a virtual happy hour, including games, activities, and a meet-and-greet with the cast of "King Lear". The silent auction is open for bids now, and will remain open until Monday, 4/20.
When: Saturday, April 18, 7 p.m.
How to join: Via Zoom or Facebook Live. Learn more on the gala's website.
Price: No ticket purchase is necessary, but please register.
Comedy Oakland online show
Comedy Oakland had to cancel its live shows for the time being due to shelter-in-place, but since we all need something to laugh at right now, the comedy club is taking its program online.
Expect to see some of the best comedians from the Bay Area and beyond, featuring performers with appearances on Comedy Central, HBO, late night talk shows and more. Comedy Oakland is hosting the show as an interactive Zoom call, so be ready to laugh, keep the background noise down, and don't heckle the performers.
Attendance is first-come, first-serve — only the first 100 attendees will be allowed in.
When: Saturday, April 18, meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., show at 7 p.m.
How to join: Via Zoom (you will need a password which you can find here)
Price: Free. If you enjoy the show you can donate money via PayPal or Venmo.
Sunday Streets shelter-in-place edition
While advocates work to close more of San Francisco's streets during shelter-in-place, Sunday Streets, San Francisco's monthly rotating block party, is going online.
From live movement classes to cooking demos and resource shares, to virtual dance parties and interactive pet parades, the Sunday Streets shelter-in-place edition will have an afternoon of free fun for the whole family.
When: Sunday, April 19, 12 p.m.
How to join: Via Zoom
Price: Free
Sundance Saloon online live
Ingu Yun, president of LGBT country-western dance club Sundance Saloon, is hosting a line-dancing lesson streamed live from his garage. The beginning of the class is aimed at complete novices, and later transitions into a more challenging dance. The class ends with a mini-marathon of dances to try out at home.
Yun tells us that last week's live stream had some technical difficulties, and said he hopes that folks who couldn't watch will give him another chance this week. A new webpage for the online Sundance Saloon includes instructions on what to do if there's another disruption.
"We expect to continue these live stream sessions at least through May," he said.
When: Sunday, April 19, 6 p.m.
How to join: Via Sundance Saloon's website
Price: Free
Midday break
Need a virtual pick-me-up? Watch an SF Ballet dancer improvise to music at home, and check out what the falcon on the PG&E building in downtown SF is doing.
