September 1 & 8, WEDNESDAY NITE CELEBRATION Georgia Street in Vallejo celebrates just up the street from the Ferry landing by blocking off the street to host Farmers’ Market from 4pm-8pm and Free Live Music from 6pm-8:30pm. Ferry over!

September 3-5, GIANTS BASEBALL at SBC Park in San Francisco, (510) 762-BALL, http://www.sfgiants.com/ or www.sfgiants.com. The Giants take on the Arizona Diamondbacks three nights in a row. Friday night’s game starts at 7:15pm; the weekend games both start at 1:05pm. $12-37. Ferry over!

September 3-6, SAUSALITO ART FESTIVAL Sausalito Waterfront, (415) 332-3555, (415) 331-3757, www.sausalitoartfest.org. One of the top-rated fine arts festivals on the West Coast features more than 20,000 original artworks, as well as music, children’s activities, and food. Special shuttles may be provided to and from the Ferry docks.

September 4, CHINATOWN NIGHT MARKET FAIR at Portsmouth Square in San Francisco’s Chinatown, (415) 397-8000, www.sanfranciscochinatown.com. Experience Chinese culture at the Night Market Fair this Labor Day weekend from 6pm-11pm with traditional lion dancing, Chinese opera, musical performances, Chinese painting, and fortunetellers.

September 4 & 18, BOBBY YOUNG PROJECT R/B & DANCE at Jack’s Bistro in Jack London Square in Oakland next to the Ferry docks, (510) 444-7171.

September 4-6, ART & SOUL FESTIVAL, 11-6pm daily. Oakland’s premier art and music festival returns Labor Day weekend to downtown. The incredible music line up alone is worth the price of admission. Art & Soul will feature four stages of live, groovin’ music, including exclusive stages for the Latin and Gospel music genres, three days of Blues, Alternative Rock , World music, Jazz, and many more surprises! Peruse the crafts of over 150 artisans, and enjoy the diverse selection of exotic foods being offered. Also enjoy literary compositions from contemporary authors at the Oakland Literature Expo. $5 per person, 12 and under free. Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, (510) 444-2489, www.artandsouloakland.com.

September 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 Every Sunday and Tuesday listen to SIMON RUSSELL on piano at Jack’s Bistro in Jack London Square, (510) 444-7171.

September 5 & 19, GOLDEN GATE PARK BAND San Francisco Botanical Gardens at Strybing Arboretum, Golden Gate Park, (415) 831-5500,
(510)530-0814, www.goldengateparkband.org. The Golden Gate Park Band has been performing for 122 years. They usually perform in the park’s band shell, but the band shell concourse is undergoing renovation so they will be making music at the beautiful Strybing Arboretum. Pack a picnic for a Labor Day concert of patriotic songs and “labor intensive” program. On September 19th,, they will feature the music and dancing of SPAIN with El Grupo Sabores De Espana. Concert performances are from 1-3pm.

September 5, “GRAPE STOMP” AT FRANCISCAN Gather with friends and get your feet wet at Franciscan’s annual grape stomp, where you’ll make wine the old fashioned way–up to your knees in juice! This special harvest event will feature special wine offerings and seasonal foods. “Guess the Varietal” game and samplings of fresh grapes from the vine. $25 per person, 12 to 4pm, (707) 967-3993.

September 5, CONCERT ON THE NAPA RIVER Enjoy an outdoor performance of the Napa Valley Symphony as they perform selections from popular contemporary musicals. Picnic by day, enjoy the performance and fireworks at night. This is an extremely popular event. Third Street is closed from Soscol to Coombs and Main from Third to Second, from 12 noon on Sunday. The symphony performs from the Third Street Bridge, with the audience in Veterans park. Free. 12pm-11pm, (707) 226-7459.


September 5-6, HARVEST WINE CELEBRATION, 23 Annual Livermore Valley Wine Experience of the Year! Over Labor Day Weekend 12-5pm, 22 Wineries & Food! Live Music and Free Wine Tasting! (925) 447-WINE (9463), www.livermorewine.com.

September 8, SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY OPENING GALA, 7:30pm promenade, 8:30pm performance at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. Celebrate MTT and the SFS’s tenth season in a Gala program of favorites that showcase a magnificent orchestral partnership. The elegant black-tie evening begins with a pre-concert promenade at 7:30pm and continues with dancing and savories at fabulous post-concert party until 1am in the City Hall Rotunda and the Louise M. Davies Tent Pavilion, featuring complimentary wine, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts from San Francisco’s finest restaurants. Dinner packages with premium concert seats are available. Call (415) 503-5500.

September 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30, Jazz Guitarist/vocalist WILLIAM PRICHARD plays at Jack’s Bistro in Jack London square in Oakland next to the Ferry docks, (510) 444-7171.

September 9, SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY FREE CONCERT, in Yerba Buena Gardens at 12 noon. Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony celebrate the beginning of their tenth season together with a free concert at Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco. Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor, Herrmann Suite from Hitchcock’s Vertigo, Aaron Copland’s Danzón cubano, and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris.

September 9, HIKE THE DIPSEA TRAIL
An easy/moderate hike up the Dipsea trail and back through Muir Woods. Carpools from Miller/Locust at 9:30am or 6pm. Rain cancels. Marin Sierra Club Group Hikes -Richard Watson (415) 461-9255,
rgwatson@pacbell.net

September 9, PRINCE performing at 7:30pm at the Oakland Networks Associates Coliseum, (510) 569-2121, www.coliseum.com.

September 10 & 25, MARTIN FRANCO plays Latin Jazz Funk at Jack’s Bistro, Jack London Square near the Ferry docks,(510) 444-7171, www.jacksbistro.com.

September 11, MUSIC FESTIVAL FOR MENTAL HEALTH, held in Napa Valley. Tenth annual event at the stunning Staglin Family Vineyard featuring Grammy-winning jazz guitarist Norman Brown; edible delights by Cindy Pawlcyn of Mustard’s Grill and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen; tasting of 50+ ultra premium wines including cult favorites; dinner by Chef Michael Schlow of Boston’s Radius Restaurant paired with Staglin Family Vineyard wines; and scientific symposium with Dr. Thomas Insel, M.D., Director of the National Institute for Mental Health. Proceeds go to the research of brain disorders. $250 (reception & concert); $2,500 (reception, concert, dinner).
www.staglinfamily.com/events_festival.

September 12, HEARING VOICES: LISTEN, 1pm at the Exploritorium, next to the Palace of Fine Arts, featuring vocal coach Dave Stroud and singers Terry Ellis (En Vogue), Tony Lindsay (Santana), Christy Macintosh (Beach Blanket Babylon), and young performer Chelsea Dyer. Stroud and company invites the audience to learn about the kinesthetic and physiology of vocalization, and how listening affects how we register and refine our voice. Performers will sing songs that reveal sonorities of the cultivated voice, and Stroud will then provide feedback on voice development.

September 16, “A TRIBUTE TO MEXICO” Free 12:30pm performance in Yerba Buena Gardens in the Esplanade Garden, Mission Street at 4th, by Dr. Loco’s Rockin’ Jalapeño Band. Dr. Loco and friends will play a rich mélange of mestizo and mulatto styles in celebration of the diverse origins of his Mexican-American musical heritage. On Mexican Independence Day, Dr. Loco will transmit the joy inherent in this música. Call (415) 543-1718 or check www.ybgf.org.

September 16-17, MARE ISLAND SHIPYARD’S 150TH BIRTHDAY PARTY Only 330 tickets available at $50 each. For more information, call Lou Bergelin at (707) 552-3510. A new monument will be raised to begin the event.

September 17, RING MOUNTAIN NIGHT PICNIC
An easy hike and potluck dinner, with the Marin’s Sierra Club hiking group, on top of Ring Mountain in Tiburon. Hike to the top—with360-degree views—and share the food and drink you’ve brought along. Sunset 8:33pm, Moonrise 7:03pm. Meet at 6pm at the Ring Mountain trailhead on Paradise Drive, one mile east on the Corte Madera offramp from Hwy 101. Roadside parking, rain cancels, sign up with Richard Watson (415) 461-9255, rgwatson@pacbell.net

September 18, VIVA LAS AMERICAS celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month at PIER 39 from Noon to 5pm.  This festive event showcases music and dance performances commemorating the artistry of Mexico and Central and South America.  Mariachis strumming their guitars serenade visitors as they stroll throughout PIER 39.  Fun for children includes traditional Latin American craft making and face painting. For further information, please phone PIER 39 at (415) 705-5500.

September 18, SLAVYANKA MEN’S RUSSIAN CHORUS Saturday performance begins at 8:00pm at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 3 Oakdale Avenue in Mill Valley. Songs and hymns of the Slavic peoples in villages and churches, along rivers, across the steppes, over the mountains. Memories of life, love, war, sorrow, faith. Gregory A. Smirnov is the director. Doors open at 7:30pm and tickets are available at the door. For information, visit www.slavyanka.org or call (415) 979-8690 for recorded message; (415) 897-6578 to reach John Kuhlman or Slavyanka. The a cappella men’s choir is based in San Francisco.

September 19, DINNER & JAZZ ON ANGEL ISLAND, from 3-7:00pm. Take a special ferry from Tiburon to Angel Island’s Fort McDowell for a private jazz concert in Fort McDowell historic chapel. The Big Band Sound of the Joe Agro Sextet will provide foot-tapping sounds and yes you can dance in the aisles! Visitors will be treated to a dinner with wine in the Guard House garden with spectacular views of the East Bay. A live auction featuring great sports and Angel Island Memorabilia will tempt you to return home with a great treasure. Return ferry is a magical trip back to Tiburon and into the sunset. Tickets are limited to 150 at $50 each. Last year’s event sold out early. ANGEL ISLAND ASSOCIATION, (415) 435-3522, www.angelisland.org. Ferry Service: Blue and Gold from San Francisco–Oakland–Alameda, www.blueandgold.com. Ferry Service from Angel Island /Tiburon, www.angelislandferry.com.

September 19, DOGTOWN
A moderate hike near Dogtown, Randall, Olema Ridge, and McCurdy Rift trails with the Sierra Hiking Club. Fairfax Parkade at 9:30am. Some streams. Rain cancels. Gas $3. (415) 461-9255, rgwatson@pacbell.net