Weekend Planner: December 30
Friday’s here again, and it’s New Year’s Weekend!! Welcome to Weekend Planner, your weekend update on fun.
Every Friday we put together a list of the weekend events we think look most interesting and provide them here. Keep in mind there is always a lot more going on, and all it takes is a little digging to find something that will be the perfect activity for you.
Click on any of the event titles for a link to the event.
Friday, December 30
SF Chamber Orchestra: Mozart in the City
Herbst Theater, San Francisco
7:30 PM, All Ages
Free
Classical masterpieces, unusual gems, and new commissions offer something for everyone at the SF Chamber Orchestra Main Stage Concerts.
Admission is free and seating is first come, first served (no tickets). Concerts are generally 90 to 120 minutes in length, with an intermission.
Supporting members receive priority seating and priority entrance 60 minutes before concert time; please bring your membership card with you. Non-members may enter 45 minutes before concert time.
2016 End of the Year Concert features:
Mozart Overture to Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492
Mozart Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504 (“Prague”)
Mozart Per questa bella mano, K. 612
Brad Walker, bass
Michel Taddei, double bass
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
Robert Schwartz, piano
These concerts are presented in memory of SFCO founder Edgar Braun.
The Ray Charles Project
Biscuits and Blues, San Francisco
8 PM, Ages: 21+
$24
In tribute to the genius of Ray Charles, a swinging sextet of outstanding Bay Area musicians offers their take on some of the highlights from Ray’s amazing songbook. A band of prominent musicians is perpetuating that legacy and bringing his music to San Francisco. The band is a meeting of elite jazz and blues musicians including 11-time GRAMMY® Award winner and Santana vocalist Tony Lindsay, noted Bay Area guitarist Chris Cain & soul filled vocals from Glenn Walters. A talent-packed rhythm section will back them, including Hammond B-3 player Dave Mathews, bassist DeWayne Pate and drummer Deszon Claiborne.
David K Mathews:
Born April 16, 1959, David K Mathews has been playing professionally since 1975. Performing on the Piano, Electric Piano, Hammond Organ, Clavinet and Synthesizers, he is currently the Keyboard player with Santana and at age 23, Dave joined the legendary Funk/Soul group TOWER OF POWER, replacing original organist Chester Thompson and touring with the group for 2 years. From1988 thru 2008, Dave was the organist/pianist with Grammy Award winning Queen of Rhythm & Blues, Etta James. He appeared with her at most of the worlds’ major jazz and blues festivals.
Tony Lindsay:
Tony Lindsay has 11 Grammy awards on his mantel after spending two decades as lead singer of Santana, and has recorded with such artists as Patti Austin, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and Steve Winwood. He moved from Albany, New York to San Jose in 1980, worked at Guitar Center, and joined the Danny Hull Quintet, which later adopted the name Spang-a-Lang. His friend Chester Thompson invited him to audition for Santana, and overnight he went from playing small clubs to huge amphitheaters.
Chris Cain:
Blues guitarist extraordinaire Chris Cain grew up in San Jose, studied music at San Jose City College, and over the next twenty years learned his way around clarinet, piano, bass guitar, and alto and tenor saxophone, not to mention developing fierce vocal chops. He’s played with such greats as Albert King and Albert Collins, Johnny Otis and Junior Wells, Boz Scaggs and Willie Nelson, and recorded ten solo albums, including his latest, So Many Miles, which the Chicago Blues Guide calls “a delicious blend of blues laced with jazz and rock.”
Dewayne Pate:
Bassist DeWayne Pate graduated from the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, moved north, and has since worked with an array of top Bay Area talents including Huey Lewis and the News, Boz Scaggs, Maria Muldaur, and Robben Ford. He’s also a columnist for Bassics Magazine, and his instructional video, The Art of Tapping, his been widely popular. Reviewer Andrew Gilbert called his album Melting Pot “an impressive array of grooves.”
Deszon Claiborne:
Deszon Claiborne is the dynamic drummer for Clockwork and the Tammy Hall Trio.
Glenn Walters:
Rounding out this powerhouse performance is Glenn Walters. Born to professional musician parents in the Midwest, Glenn began his music career at age 14. After years of touring with many famous Big Bands, Glenn’s saxophonist father, Howard, decided to form a family trio with Glenn on drums and vocals and Glenn’s mother, Glenna, on Hammond organ. As “The Baronets Trio”, they toured most of the U.S. and Canada until Glenn started college in Kansas City, Missouri. While there, he joined “The Kansas City Emeralds”, a 14 piece soul band doing the current hits of the day by artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and James Brown. Then riding the wave of Psychedelia, Glenn formed “The Mystic Number National Bank”, which made one album before dissolving in a purple haze.
Tickets are valid for one show only. The doors open at 5:30pm, the first show begins at 7:30pm and the second show at starts 10pm. We begin seating for the second show at 9:30pm. Seating is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, we recommend that customers arrive early to secure preferred seating.
*Please note that the first show at 7:30pm is a dinner required show, meaning an entree purchase per person.*
Saturday, December 31
Crystal Jade, San Francisco
10:30 PM, Ages: 21+
$100
An Unforgettable New Year’s Eve Experience!
Every New Year’s Eve Hundreds of Thousands of people come together along the Embarcadero to watch the Midnight Fireworks display over the Bay Bridge.
Now, You can have this once in a life time opportunity to experience the Midnight Fireworks at Crystal Jade, above all the festivities on the Embarcardero.
With 2 Rooms of Music Featuring House Music on the Outdoor Terrace and Top 40’s in the Indoor Main Room.
TABLE RESERVATIONS: Reserve one of many tables with a multi million dollars view on the heated rooftop area, enjoy the welcoming of 2016 with your friends above the hundred of thousands people that come to Embarcadero every year.
4 Inside Lounge Couches (6 people maximum) 2 Inside Lounge Couches (10 people maximum) 2 Inside Lounge Couches (15 people maximum) 8 Inside Main Floor By the Windows (6people maximum)
Crystal Jade on the Embarcadero is the best place to toast to the New Year with FRONT ROW SEATS, right under the FIREWORKS AT MIDNIGHT as well as the Spectacular and Priceless Views of:
Embarcadero Fireworks at Midnight
2016 Hanukkah Grand Finale and 25 Ft. Tall Menorah 8th Candle
Union Square, San Francisco
7 PM, All Ages
Free
Celebrate Hanukkah 2016 with the 42nd annual lighting of the 25 foot tall mahogany Bill Graham Menorah in Union Square. This San Francisco tradition, the brainchild of rock and roll concert promoter Bill Graham, begun in 1975.
Lighting ceremonies take place from December 24-31, at approximately 5 pm on most days (Friday is at 3 pm and Saturday is at 7 pm).
2016 Schedule
Sat, Dec 24: 1st Candle Lighting Ceremony at 7 pm
Sun, Dec 25: Bill Graham Menorah Day Event Begins at 2 pm; Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Bill Graham presents alums to light the Menorah
Musical performances by Klezmer Trio and the Dancing Frog
Music, Dreidel House & kids crafts activities start at 2 pm
Mon, Dec 26: 3rd Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Tue, Dec 27: 4th Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Wed, Dec 28: 5th Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Thu, Dec 29: 6th Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Special Guest Appearance: Lazer Lloyd
Fri, Dec 30: 7th Candle Lighting Ceremony at 3 pm
Sat, Dec 31: 8th Candle Grand Finale: Lighting Ceremony at 7 pm
NYE Fire Ceremony
Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center, San Francisco
8:30 PM, All Ages
Free
Celebrate ringing out the old and ringing in the new with meditation, games, live music, refreshments, words of wisdom, and “Letting go of the Old” fire ceremony to usher in the new year on December 31, 2016.
Free, but an RSVP is required.
This event is free and no prior meditation experience is necessary to attend the event. Please note, this is an alcohol-free celebration and they are requesting kindly visitors remove footwear before entering the party hall.
About the Fire Ceremony:
In a meditative atmosphere, everyone is asked to contemplate and write on a piece of paper (pencil and paper slip is provided) on something (it may be an unproductive habit, a limitation, a regret, or guilt) that they want to let go of from the previous year.
Then one by one people get up and go to the fire, lit just outside the main entrance of the venue, and put their paper slip in the fire and watch it burn to give you strength and deep relief to the inner self.
Sunday, January 1
“It’s a New Day” New Years Day Dance Party
The Great Northern, San Francisco
All Day, Ages: 21+
$40
The Great Northern, Sunset Sound System, Pink Mammoth, and Green Gorilla Lounge present:
2nd Annual IT’S A NEW DAY New Years Day Dance Party + After-Party!
We have come together as community to bring the sweet sounds of the underground to you in 3 parts…
• 6am-10am — Our friends at Housepitality SF launch the event inside Great Northern for an intimate afterparty – $20 tickets still available • 10am-9pm — We fire up the food trucks and tented outdoor sound systems with seating, bars, and photobooth as we prepare for our Noons Year countdown celebration. • 9pm-2am — The After-Party begins inside Great Northern to bring home the night. (separate ticket or full day pass required)
Please Note: – Unless you have purchased an ALL DAY PASS, tickets are good for event from 6am-9pm (8pm inside Great Northern) – An after-party ticket or an ALL DAY PASS is required for party at Great Northern after 9pm. – Cash and credit cards will be accepted at all bars and at the box office. – Ins and outs are permitted until 4pm, after for an additional fee at the gate. – 21+ event. All ticket sales are final – No outside Food or Beverage – Early Arrival is encouraged
New Year’s Day Bottomless Mimosas and Food Trucks
SoMa StrEat Foods, San Francisco
10 AM, All Ages
Free
Rise and shine and enjoy a sunny crisp New Year’s Day Brunch picnic with bottomless mimosas & sangria, DJs spinning all day long, and college football bowl games on the TVs.
Enjoy mind-blowing brunch & hangover cure specials from 10+ different food trucks including gourmet waffles, Filipino sisig, fresh-made mini hot donuts, and Ramen.
For $25 you’ll get unlimited mimosas & fresh fruit sangria – mix and match all day long (11am to 4pm)!
Mimosas
Fresh Citrus Red Wine Sangria
Strawberry Watermelon White Wine Sangria
Includes cover and skip the line at the entrance
Dedicated window at the bar
Exclusive VIP refill station
– Hook’t Donuts: Freshly-made miniature donuts – Waffle Amore: Sweet and savory gourmet waffles – Señor Sisig: Filipino – Adams Grub Truck: Asian Fusion – El Calamar: Peruvian – Gyros on Wheels: Mediterranean – Kokio Republic: Korean Fried Chicken – Nucha Empanadas: Handmade Argentine Empanadas and Quiches – The Sarap Shop: Filipino-American comfort food – Torraku Ramen: Organic gourmet Ramen – Firetrail Pizza: Wood-fired Pizza – NoNo Burger: Vegan Burgers – Vendor lineup subject to change
Want more options? Eventbrite is a great place to start. Know about
a great event we missed? Leave it in the comments.