Ever heard of Amadeo “Amador” Pietro Giannini? No matter the answer, you’ve probably walked by his brick-and-marble legacy hundreds of times. In 1908, the philanthropist and founder of the Bank of Italy—the American-born son of Italian immigrants—oversaw the construction of the bank’s San Francisco HQ at 550 Montgomery Street. Fast-forward 100-plus years and Giannini’s still-handsome FiDi building is undergoing a ground-floor renovation set to debut this summer. Meet The Bank at Amador (named for you-know-who), a new members-only club modeled after the European café by day, bar by night conc ..read more

A new food and wine festival debuts in the Bay Area this May, and it's unlike just about anything else out there. Over four days of uniquely curated food and drink experiences, the POC Food & Wine Festival will celebrate those chefs, vintners, brewers, distillers, and other makers of color who are often overlooked in the spaces devoted to their crafts. “We’ve been seeing creative movements happening in cultural communities and I wanted to create a space for a more multicultural community, one to which we could bring in the East Asian community, the Filipino community, the Black community ..read more

This week, find yourself a bit more cultured with arts events for every style. Get all dressed up for an after-hours party at SFMOMA's Art Bash, discover your new favorite director at the San Francisco International Film Festival, step inside a 19th century mansion at the 45th Annual SF Decorator Showcase, ogle incredible works at the SF Art Fair, help crown the winner of Art Battle's Regional Championship, and much more. Have a good one. See on Instagram Check out Julian Lennon's photography at Saint Joseph's Art Foundation. Wake up and Dream features intimate environmental portraits an ..read more

Lately, it seems, the city can’t get enough of a good time. From swanky new lounges to street fairs and festivals, this stage of San Francisco’s post-pandemic recovery is all about gathering together over communal meals and out-of-the-ordinary experiences. Of all the styles of celebration going off in the city right now, one of the most fun is rooted in Filipino tradition: the Kamayan dinner. “Kamayan is a communal style of dining which translates to using only your hands to eat,” explains Francis Ang, executive chef and owner of celebrated Filipino restaurant, Abacá. It’s “a feast served ov ..read more

San Franciscans don't often stay out until midnight on a weeknight, but we'll make an exception for Cal Academy's Party After Dark this Thursday. We're also filling our days this week with a bread-baking class at Faction Brewing, Noe Valley's Spring Wine Walk, Bay Area Brew Fest in the Presidio, Petaluma's Butter and Egg Parade, and a Taylor Swift–themed bar crawl in the Marina. Have a good one. See on Instagram Start the week with a free scoop of ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. You deserve it; Tuesday, noon to 8pm. // Find your nearest location at benjerry.com Get 30 percent off an all ..read more

There’s no shortage of elite hotels in California. Big Sur’s got Alila Ventana, Napa Auberge du Soleil. There’s Sonoma’s Farmhouse Inn, SF’s Four Seasons Hotel, Carmel Valley’s Bernardus Lodge & Spa—each property an oasis of luxury and relaxation. But while the much-esteemed Forbes Travel Guide recognizes each of them for their excellence, not a single one has earned the brand’s highest recognition, the triple five-star. An honor bestowed on properties with three different five-star amenities—typically a hotel, spa, and restaurant—this year just 15 hotels in the entire world made the cut ..read more

In Northern California, summer festivals come in multiple forms. There are the ones you know—BottleRock, Outside Lands, and the like—and there are ones you don’t, events that are as unique as the theme they are celebrating. From festivals dedicated to artichokes and accordions to an all-you-can-eat live fire cooking extravaganza, here are five quirky can’t-miss festivals going off this summer. Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee, Angels Camp Mark Twain is something of a hero in the Sierra Foothills and nowhere has he left more of a mark than in Angels Camp. Each year, they cele ..read more

Tamara Rojo isn’t just having a moment, she’s having lots of moments. Her inaugural season as San Francisco Ballet’s artistic director has featured world premieres (Mere Mortals), crowd-pleasing classics (Swan Lake), and powerful creative programs (Dos Mujeres). Indeed, as the 2023-24 season nears it finale on May 5th, there’s no denying it has been one hell of a run for the dynamic leader. Words like "spectacular" and "groundbreaking" appear regularly in reviews of her productions. None of this is surprising. After all, along with her previous position as artistic director of London’s Engli ..read more

The Family House Superbloom Gala will be held on Saturday, May 18th at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. The annual gala is a beloved night of celebration, connection and support among the board, donors, volunteers and friends in the Bay Area. The party will feature a festive cocktail reception, gourmet dinner with amazing wines, a finely curated live auction, plus music and so much more. Get dressed up in your favorite floral fashion and support Family House! For over 40 years, Family House San Francisco has served as a pediatric guesthouse and a home-away-from-home for children being treat ..read more

For a few decades in the mid-19th century, the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada were briefly at the center of the universe. As the region swelled with immigrants drawn by the discovery of gold, new towns erupted one after another to both equip and prey on the hordes. Close to 200 years later, only a handful have survived the passage of time. On Highway 49, they are still strung like diamonds beneath the mountains. While millions of visitors pass within a hair’s breadth of the Golden Chain Highway each year on the way to Yosemite, very few venture any further up the road. They don’t kno ..read more