This January, celebrate the 28th anniversary of the sea lions' arrival to PIER 39.
Photo by Joel Williams
Published: January, 2018
28 Years of Sea Lions at PIER 39
This January, celebrate the 28th anniversary of the sea lions’ arrival to PIER 39. The boisterous barking pinnipeds began arriving in droves shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake hit San Francisco in October 1989. With a protected environment and plentiful supply of food from the Bay, the sea lions quickly decided to make PIER 39’s K-Dock their new home. Every day in January you can stop by the Sea Lion Center and enjoy programming every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including “Sea Lion Shenanigans,” “What’s for Lunch?” and “Floatin’ with the Sea Lions of San Francisco.” Also available every Saturday, join PIER 39 to celebrate these playful mammals with free “Sea Lion Encounter” educational walking tours led by naturalists hourly from 12 to 3 p.m. and receive a voucher for a free refreshment and a discounted admission to Aquarium of the Bay at the end of each tour (availability is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis). Visit www.pier39.com for more information.
Oakland Restaurant Week
From January 11 to 21, participating Oakland restaurants will celebrate the most diverse restaurant week in the region. Oakland Restaurant Week runs over two weekends for foodies to take full advantage of dining deals. Participating restaurants will offer prix fixe lunch and/or dinner menus at $10, $20, $30, $40 and $50 price points. Oakland Restaurant Week is your opportunity to experience the trendy culinary scene everyone is talking about. That’s two weekends of awesome deals to feed your inner foodie. For more information and a listing of participating restaurants visit www.oaklandrestaurantweek.org.
Globetrotters Visit Oracle
The Original Harlem Globetrotters are on the road for an action-packed world tour! A star-studded roster will have fans on the edge of their seats to witness the ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that thrills fans of all ages. Join Globetrotter stars after the game where they will stay for an autograph, photograph and high-five sessions for fans (subject to availability). There will be performances at 2 and 7 p.m. on January 13 and January 20 at the Oracle Arena. Ticket prices start at $22. For more information, visit www.oraclearena.com.
Truffles Galore!
The American Truffle Company returns to Napa with the eighth annual Napa Truffle Festival on January 12-15. This event brings together two complementary aspects of European truffles—the best chefs in the world known for their truffle cuisine, and the best truffle experts/scientists in the world recognized for their expertise and data on truffle cultivation. Gourmands and aspiring truffle growers alike will find a bounty of activities throughout the festival weekend to satisfy their appetite and curiosity for the flavor and knowledge of one of the world’s most prized and delectable foods. Napa Valley will again serve as the host for the festival weekend, partnering with The Westin Verasa Napa as “truffle central” for check in and programs. The hotel also extends exclusive, special room rates for festival guests. Unique to this festival is the Michelin-starred team of chefs led by Ken Frank of La Toque, who will present culinary demonstrations and showcase extraordinary skills and talents in a tour de force truffles and wine dinner on Saturday evening. There will also be truffle experts and scientists, a master truffle dog trainer, wild mushroom foragers and, everyone’s favorites, Rico and Lolo the truffle dogs. The festival concludes on Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the lively Napa Truffle Festival marketplace at Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa, showcasing local artisan vendors and their specialty food products, plus cooking demos, fresh truffles for sale and a chance to win a real black truffle. For more information on the festival, visit www.napatrufflefestival.com. The marketplace is free to the public to browse and purchase truffle menu items à la carte.
MarinMOCA Looks Inward
Get a glimpse into artists’ subconscious at InnerScapes, opening January 13 at MarinMOCA. A revealing look at the emotional, spiritual and intellectual process undertaken by artists in the pursuit of their craft. Visitors are invited to experience the powerful and authentic creativity that comes from the artist dipping his/her brush into their inner state. This exhibit is free to the public and will be on view through February 25 with a free, public reception on Saturday, January 13 from 5-7 p.m. MarinMOCA is located at 500 Palm Drive in Novato.
Rosenblum Serves Up January Fun
Rosenblum Cellars has a calendar full of January events to keep you occupied after work. “Trivia Tuesdays at with Nicole Bridges” is as easy as “drink, play and win” with five rounds of 10 questions on pop culture music and more at 6 p.m. On Wednesdays at 6 p.m., enjoy “Sips & Samples with Chef D’andre Forks.” There will also be live music at 2 p.m. on Fridays, January 12 and 26 with Jackson and the Immortals and at 6 p.m. on Saturdays, January 13 and 27 with D’Groove. Rosenblum Cellars is located just steps from the Oakland Ferry Terminal in Jack London Square.
Ancient Chinese Performance Art
In 2006, a group of elite Chinese artists came together to revive traditional culture and share it with the world. They created Shen Yun and brought this majestic culture back from the brink of extinction. Shen Yun combines ancient legends with technological innovations, and historically authentic costumes with breathtaking animated backdrops. Letting classical Chinese dance do the storytelling, it shares beautifully diverse ethnic and folk traditions. Filled with an enchanting orchestral sound, this is a mesmerizing experience you won’t find anywhere else. Performances will be held in San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House January 1-7 and at Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley January 12-14. For more information and tickets, visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.
To have your event or announcement considered for the Bay Crossings Around the Bay listings, please send information or a press release to: joel@baycrossings.com.
