If someone were to set a musical score for the month of July in San Francisco, it might borrow heavily from the cool jazz notes of Chet Baker and Stan Getz. Or Lalo Schifrin’s much-acclaimed soundtrack for the 1968 film “Bullitt.” The “cool, grey city of love” with a spritz of fog in the afternoon is the perfect summer refresher.
Here’s nine picks for July for your 49 Hours of SF:
Through July 29, 2012
The Utopian Impulse: Buckminster Fuller and the Bay Area
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St.
Although Buckminster Fuller never lived in San Francisco, his ideas spawned many local experiments in the realms of technology, engineering, and sustainability—some more successful than others. The Whole Earth Catalog, The North Face, Pritzker Prize–winning architect Thom Mayne (whose work can be seen at 90 Seventh St. in the new Federal Building), and California Governor Jerry Brown have all cited Fuller as a key influence. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) presents the first exhibition to consider Fuller's local design legacy: some 65 works, including prints, drawings, photographs, documentary video, books, models, and ephemera.
Through August 5
SF Chefs. Food. Wine.
Union Square
Mingle with the Bay Area’s finest chefs, bar stars and wine experts at SF Chefs. Food. Wine. Festivities have already begun with the Dinner Party Project, demos with top chefs at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, the exclusive 49 Square Miles Food Tour party and Food Arts Industry Series with impressive panels. On Aug 3-5, 2012 join fellow foodies in Union Square as it is transformed into a culinary wonderland under the Grand Tasting Tent where a thrilling selection of wines and spirits will provide the perfect complement to showcase dishes from San Francisco’s most coveted chefs including Gary Danko, Charles Phan, Traci Des Jardins, Tyler Florence, Hubert Keller, Emily Luchetti, Thomas McNaughton, Martin Yan and many others.
Through Aug. 19, 2012
The 1968 Exhibit
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland
The Oakland Museum of California’s "The 1968 Exhibit," a major, multimedia, 7,000-square-foot exhibition examines the events of the year and how they fueled a persistent, and often contradictory, sense of identity for the people who were there and those who came after. This landmark exhibition explores the social, political and economic events of 1968, which saw the peak of the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, riots at the Democratic National Convention, Black Power demonstrations at the Summer Olympics, feminist demonstrations at the Miss America pageant and much more.
July 7-8, 2012
Fillmore Street Jazz Festival
Fillmore St. between Jackson and Eddy Streets
The West Coast’s largest free jazz festival features 12 blocks of music, fine arts and crafts, gourmet food and beverages in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Fillmore Jazz District. Kim Nalley in a special tribute to the late Etta James, Jai Uttal and The King Brothers will be among the two dozen artists and bands performing. And the “So You Think You Can Dance” crowd should head over to the O’Farrell Street Stage dance floor for “any swing goes” and Lindy hopping.
July 11-Sept. 3, 2012
Corazon Under the Dome
Westfield San Francisco Centre, 865 Market St.
The majestic dome of Westfield San Francisco Centre will soon be transformed by “Corazon Under the Dome,” a seven-minute, one-of-a-kind animated 3D light and sound spectacular. This visual and musical celebration of the heart (corazon) of San Francisco journeys through the city’s rich history and milestone events accompanied by a soundtrack of San Francisco songs. Considered one of the signature features of the building when it opened in 1896, the 102-foot-wide, three-story Westfield dome was designed by renowned architect Albert Pissis. Shows will be every evening on the half-hour starting at 5 p.m. during the summer.
July 27, 2012
Animate Your Night: Ready, Steady, Go!
Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery St., Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco’s “culture and cocktails” scene adds another hot spot to the roster: Walt Disney Family Museum. Beginning July 27, 2012, 7-10 p.m., experience the galleries in a whole new light with “Animate Your Night,” a new museum-wide after-hours party that includes music, performances, film screenings, hands-on art activities, nibbles and a cash bar. The inaugural event pays tribute to the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Pose for a photo; nosh on pub grub and sip “The Olympian” signature cocktail; view Disney Olympic film classics; hear a gallery talk about the museum’s 1960 Olympic Torch from the Squaw Valley Olympic Games in 1960, and dance to British beats all night long with DJ Syl the Thryl. Tickets are $10.
Golden Gate Overlook
In the Presidio, off of Lincoln Boulevard, between Langdon Court and Merchant Road
Need a new outlook? We’ve got just the vantage point — the new Golden Gate Overlook in the Presidio of San Francisco. Located at the convergence of three major trails: the California Coastal Trail, the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, the overlook is perfectly oriented to showcase the two towers of the Golden Gate Bridge in alignment. Opened in May 2012 as part of 75th anniversary celebrations for the bridge, it also offers views of the Pacific and Marin Headlands.
Flick Picks
Two film festivals run concurrently in mid-July: the Silent Film Festival at the Castro Theatre, and the Frozen Film Festival at the Roxie, 3117 16th St. Now in its 17th year, the Silent Film Festival opens on July 12 with “Wings,” the picture that won the first ever Academy Award. Showcasing the year’s best new independent avant-garde pop culture films, the Frozen Film Festival takes its name from the distinct chill of the San Francisco summer. Films from American and international filmmakers showcase the diversity and vitality of Jewish culture – or as the program for the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, July 19-Aug. 6, 2012, says “guilt, gelt and gefiltefish & film” The festival opens with the world premiere of “Hava Nagila (The Movie),” a film about the iconic Jewish song. Also on the schedule: “Tiger Eyes,” based on the Judy Blume book with Blume in attendance; “Hello I Must be Going” starring Blythe Danner; the West Coast premiere of Director Henry Jaglom’s “Just 45 Minutes from Broadway,” and a tribute to actor Elliott Gould. Screenings are at the Castro Theatre, the Jewish Community Center and locations in Berkeley, Oakland, Palo Alto and San Rafael.
July 15 and July 28, 2012
Breakfast at the Zoo
San Francisco Zoo, One Zoo Road
If it’s true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, start the day off right at the San Francisco Zoo and get some brain food while you’re at it. On July 15 it’s a breakfast buffet with the Magellanic penguins at Penguin Island; penguin keeper Anthony Brown will be on hand to share some penguin pointers. If you’re more inclined to visit the Savanna where giraffe, zebra, kudu, oryx and many African bird species roam, reserve a spot for July 28 when breakfast is slated for the three-acre preserve where mixed species share this open-landscaped setting.
What are you planning to do this month in San Francisco? Tell us in the comments below!
