Lifestyle News

AROUND THE BAY IN JANUARY 2020

George Jacob, president & CEO of Aquarium of the Bay, examines the a gold-painted sea lion with fish scales in the Farallon Hall. Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Bay

Pinnipeds on the Piers

Thirty life-sized sea lion statues painted by 30 Bay Area artists will adorn different spots on the Embarcadero starting in late January and remain on display for the remainder of 2020. Made from fiberglass, the sea lion statues evoke a number of different topics, including ocean habitat, pollution, the carbon footprint from seafaring goods, ocean acidification, micro-plastic ingestion and climate change. Each sea lion statue holds a QR code that takes the user to a multi-lingual landing page containing the artist’s statement and education component. In addition to the 30 sea lions, there is also an exciting drive to paint 3,000 small sea lions to set a new world record. The real sea lions arrived at Pier 39 following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and, although initially regarded as pests, they soon took over K-Dock. They became an instant tourist attraction and are one of the most photographed destinations in the Bay Area. Naturalists from the Sea Lion Center and Aquarium of the Bay offer regular education programs at the Pier 39 site. For more information and program details, see www.aquariumofthebay.org or pier39.com.

 

Oakland Eats

Oakland Restaurant Week, presented by Visit Oakland in partnership with See.Eat.Love, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. From Thursday, January 9 through Monday, January 20, over 100 Oakland Restaurants will celebrate one of the largest and most diverse restaurant weeks in the region. The popular program runs over 12 days and two weekends for foodies to take full advantage of dining deals. Participating restaurants will offer prix fixe lunch and/or dinner menus with price points in ten-dollar increments starting at $10 and ending at $80. The promotional prices reflect up to 25 percent off regular a la carte items. Complete lists of participating restaurants, menus, special events and reservations are available on www.oaklandrestaurantweek.org.

Artists Delve Deep in Marin

On January 11, MarinMOCA opens Beneath the Surface, an exhibit of work that delves deep into the inner world of the artist. Layer upon layer, artists explore their media and subject matters, and the end result often belies the twists and turns of their creative journey. The artists seek to uncover, and reveal, that there is more to this world than meets the eye. Visitors of all ages are invited to experience this engaging show of artwork in a variety of media. The exhibit runs through February 23. During the opening reception on January 11, a “walk and talk” through the gallery at 4:30 p.m. will be conducted by Bay Area writer and exhibit curator DeWitt Cheng, followed by the reception from 5 to 7 p.m. This exhibit is free to the public. For more information, visit www.marinmoca.org.

Truffles Galore!  

The American Truffle Company returns to Napa with the 10th annual Napa Truffle Festival from January 17 to 20. 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 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 stunning 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—the truffle dog training demo. The festival concludes on Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 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. Also featured will be 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 a la carte.

Rosenblum Serves Up January Fun

Rosenblum Cellars has a plan to keep you occupied after work on Tuesdays and Fridays in January. Trivia Tuesdays with Nicole Bridges is as easy as “drink, play and win” with five rounds of 10 questions on pop culture, music and more. And, on the first and third Fridays (January 3 and 17), enjoy karaoke nights with songs, laughter and wine. Rosenblum Cellars is located just steps from the Oakland Ferry Terminal in Jack London Square. Visit rosenblumcellars.com for more information.

Globetrotters Visit Bay Area

See the Original Harlem Globetrotters on their “Pushing the Limits” world tour for action-packed performances throughout the Bay Area. 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. There will be new high-flying dunks, hilarious stunts, a new record-breaking attempt and unforgettable family moments. Join Globetrotter stars after the game where they will stay for autograph, photograph and high-five sessions for fans (subject to availability). There will be performances on January 11 at the Chase Center in San Francisco; January 14 and 15 at the Haehl Pavilion in Santa Rosa; January 17, 19 and 20 at the SAP Center in San Jose; and January 18 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Ticket prices start at $25. For more information, visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com.

Comic Relief in SF

SF Sketchfest returns to spread laughter all over the Bay Area. Billed as “the San Francisco Comedy Festival,” SF Sketchfest is now in its 19th year. Audiences can expect another year full of improv, skits, films and more entertainment from major comedy stars and up-and-coming acts from around the world. SF Sketchfest kicks off with a world premiere of the Netflix original series, Medical Police, and closes with Quiz-o-Tron, a witty quiz show between comedians and scientists. Be there for all 18 days of comedy from January 9 through 26. For tickets, schedules and more information, visit www.sfsketchfest.com.

  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.