Water water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink – unless you want to spend at least $10. This is near the Ferry Building, after all. Credit: Sergio Ruiz, 2012.
This week’s Curator: Bart Bernhardt of Nerd Nite SF.
Events in SF slow down around Christmas, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a ton of cool stuff to do. Many of these tips revolve around our shoreline – thanks to some celestial phenomena this is an extraordinary week to hit the beaches. So fill up a thermos with hot chocolate (or something stronger, I won’t judge) and don your warmest beachwear! If that’s not your speed, there’s also shrooming, art, history, and cabaret.
Happy holidays from all of us at The Anglerfish!
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COMING UP THIS WEEK:
Nerd Nite SF: Novelty Catalogs, Software Disasters, and Animal Astronauts!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my own event, happening tonight. Check your seat for whoopie cushions, raise your glass to QA testers, and pour a little out for Laika the space dog as we host three fascinating speakers at our monthly lecture-in-a-bar series.
WED 12/19, 7 PM. Rickshaw Stop, SF. $8.
King Tides
As if colossal waves weren’t enough, it’s that time of the year again when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are all aligned at perigee and perihelion, resulting in some dramatic tidal shifts. The California King Tides Project encourages people to get out and photograph these extreme high tides, because with sea level rise these extreme tides today are the normal tides of the future. Lots of cool walking tours and photo group outings are scheduled over the next few days.
THU 12/20 – SUN 12/23, various times and locations.
Tide Pooling
Along with the extreme high tides, there are also some big low tides. These minus tides are fantastic for clambering around rocks and tide pools! But: BE CAREFUL, and be alert. Don’t @^%# around when it comes to big waves and tides, especially during King Tide and storm season.
FRI 12/21 – TUE 12/25, between 4:30 & 7:30, shorelines everywhere.
Poke Poling
My new favorite hobby: Poke poling, as taught to me by that sea chantey-singing Sea Forager, Kirk Lombard. It is the easiest form of fishing ever invented. It’s fishing on Cheat Mode. I mean Konami Code level cheating. Strap a hook onto a stick with some squid bait, and poke it into rocky crevasses at low tide. You need a fishing permit and to obey all regulations, and you’ll want to watch some tutorials/do some research, but it’s fun, cheap, easy, and delicious. Again: BE SAFE.
Low tides whenever, rocky shorelines, especially man-made rockwalls. Pacifica, Half Moon Bay,and Fort Baker are just a few well-known places to consider.
Whale Watching
Just last week I saw a pod of dolphins frolicking in the waves just off Sutro Baths, which reminded me: It’s about that time of the year when the mighty gray whales migrate south past our shores. The migrations begin in mid-December and peak in January. Take a day- or weekend- trip to Point Reyes, Pigeon Point, or Big Sur, or sign up for one of the many whale watching boating excursions.
Soon! Check the Golden Gate Cetacean Watch page for updates of sightings.
Fairy Winterland
Something for y’all with kids! Fairyland in Oakland is decked out for the holidays and with special activities, from puppet theater to a festival of lights parade to arts and crafts to (of course) visits from Santa.
WED 12/19 – SUN 12/23. Children’s Fairyland, Oakland. $12.
A Very Merry Misfit Cabaret
This promises to be both naughty and nice. A variety show, with everything from burlesque to magic, and a kick-ass house band. Theater/glee/musical fans rejoice, especially of the Rocky Horror Picture Show persuasion.
Several dates through the 29th. Z Space, San Francisco. $30+.
PSA Press @ California Historical Society
If you feel the urge to adorn your attire with pins the likes of Doggie Diner, Lucky 13, or the San Francisco Twins – Marian and Vivian Brown – then this event is for you! PSA Press create enamel pins of Bay Area institutions and legends. Learn how these artists reflect our city in miniature.
FRI 12/21, Noon. California Historical Society, SF. Free.
Psychedelic Mushrooms of California
Citizen scientist Alan Rockefeller is a prolific contributor to mushroom taxonomy who leverages the biohacker space Counter Culture Labs to study them. He’ll be talking about psilocybin mushrooms, but attendees are encouraged to bring *legal* mushrooms to the event for discussion, too.
FRI 12/21, 8 PM. Omni Commons, Oakland. $10 suggested.
Memories of Bernal Hill, Ghost Tour Vol 2
Don’t let the words “Ghost Tour” fool you (for the undead variety, we recommend the SF Ghost Hunt Walking Tour). This is a series of public artworks and a zine highlighting the natural history of SF’s parks, interwoven with traces of our city’s history. El Rio is one of my fave bars, and they are hosting the zine/art unveiling party for Ghost Tour Vol 2.
SAT 12/22, 9 PM. El Rio, SF. $5.