Dinner and a movie? Ho hum. No wonder you’d rather stay home and catch up on laundry. Surprise yourself (and your S.O.) by venturing out for the evening.
Blinded by Science
The Academy of Sciences’s NightLife VIP Tour is out of this world. Bypass the epic lines and take advantage of the open bar while awaiting the arrival of your guides, expert raconteurs Chris Fitzsimmons and Scott Black. Get a behind-the-scenes peek at the living roof, private gem vault, and rain forest, before taking your seats for the planetarium show. Finish with chocolate pot de creme at the Moss Room, the museum’s swank subterranean eatery.
Float Your Boat
Splash out with UCSF’s Sausalito Moonlight Paddle on San Francisco Bay. After a crash course in kayak safety, you’ll glide out on the calm waters of Richardson Bay for breathtaking sunset views of the city and surrounding isles. Celebrate your teamwork with a drink at Taste of Rome (1000 Bridgeway, Sausalito; 415-332-7660) before heading back over the bridge.
Leave Your Senses
Take in a Friday- or Saturday-night concert at the Audium (1616 Bush Street, between Gough and Franklin Streets; 415-771-1616), the only theater in the nation dedicated to sound sculpture. With 176 speakers and a soundtrack written specifically for the space, you’re guaranteed a wild sensory experience. Compare notes afterward over a flight at Amelie (1754 Polk Street; 415-292-6916).
That way, your night’s not a total wash.
Photo: Anthony Gordon / Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences
GO
Dunsmuir Estate Oktoberfest & Pumpkin Patch
What: Live Oompah tunes and German beer and munchies, plus games, crafts, trolley rides, and pumpkin painting to help you and the brood get Teutonic.
Why: See you lederhosen.
When: Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Ct., at the carriage house at Covington Gate, Oakland (510-562-0328).
VISIT
Fall Family Festival: Tales from the Emerald Cities
What: An annual celebration of the parent-child relationship, this year with puppet shows, classical dance, and storytelling from Burma and Thailand.
Why: You’re in a family way.
When: Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., b/t McAllister & Grove Sts. (415-581-3500).
DOWNLOAD
Clif Kid Neighborhood Safety Guide
What: A health assessment checklist with quick fixes to make your block safer for trick-or-treaters.
Why: Spook’s around the corner.
When: You’re out ambling.
Where: Online at clifbar.com.