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

April showers bring cherry blossom flowers. ? The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival returns this weekend to San Francisco's Japantown. Plus, find out where to watch the (partial) solar eclipse, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival finds a new home at the Palace of Fine Arts, Patti LuPone performs the hits from her Tony Award-winning career, Bay FC brings a new reason to cheer for Bay Area sports, and a spring soiree wraps up the weekend at Nick's Cove. Have a good one. See on Instagram Be the buzz you want for SF. When you join our new 7x7 Social Club, you'll score exclusive ..read more

For over a year now, the national media have been portraying San Francisco as a post-apocalyptic city stuck in a version of urban hell they’ve named the Doom Loop. But here on the ground, things look a whole lot different. Sure, downtown is struggling and the Tenderloin is, well, the Tenderloin, but throughout the vast majority of the 7x7, the city’s heartbeat is beating with vibrancy and promise for the future. Still don’t believe it? Here are seven things to love about San Francisco right now, doom loop be damned. ​Night Markets, Parties + Art Walks For the first time in a long time, San ..read more

A great hike doesn’t have to be a hard hike. Sometimes a mellow trail in a nature-rich environment is all you need to recharge. On these trails, you won’t find any steep climbs or large hills—not one has an elevation gain of more than 425 feet—just five solid hikes that promise more pleasure than pain. Presidio Promenade Trail (4.2-mile loop) San Francisco’s Presidio Promenade Trail is a tour of the park’s greatest hits. In just over four miles, you’ll stroll up Lover’s Lane past Andy Goldsworthy’s dramatic "Woodline", take in the views at Inspiration Point, pass by the National Cemetery an ..read more

Don’t bother looking for a road sign pointing you to Bolinas, the Marin County community 23 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge; there isn’t one. In contrast to the neighboring tourist magnet Stinson Beach, Bolinas residents like to keep things low-key. (The old smugglers hub still has bootleggers' wariness in its blood.) But that's just fine with us: The charm of this quirky beachside retreat is in its lack of development. If you do find your way down the winding road to the lagoon, you'll find the West Coast’s oldest saloon, casual but delicious food, and a thriving arts community where ..read more