Things to do / Travel Guide
Big nightlife on the central California coast emanates from San Francisco and the Bay Area. These metropolitan centers are the heart of entertainment in the region. If you want to see a huge concert, a professional opera, or go to a massive dance club, your best bet is somewhere around San Francisco. Things are definitely mellower to the north in wine country and to the south in the less populated areas that dot the coast.
Arts and Entertainment around Napa Valley and Sonoma County
Napa Valley is known for lots of wineries and vineyards, rolling hills and scenic beauty, and for being a very quiet and peaceful section of California. Many of the towns in Napa Valley, such as the town of Napa and Calistoga, are, for all intents and purposes, “country towns.” They are small and affluent and this means that the nightlife-entertainment scene in Napa Valley is a far cry from the big city. As a result, what you will find is entertainment and nightlife in a more specialized and refined setting. Rather than heading out to bars and clubs, of which there are almost none in the Napa Valley, locals prefer to take in an evening of jazz or opera. Napa Valley has a bustling culture scene that includes many arts groups and festivals. For instance, the Napa Valley Symphony, which plays year round in Yountville's Lincoln Theatre, is known for classical music. The town of Napa's Opera House duly functions as an entertainment center and a civic center while Napa's Jarvis Conservatory exhibits an energetic program of operas, as well as Spanish-language zarzuelas.
Arts and Entertainment around San Francisco, California
When it comes to the “after dark” scene, San Francisco is where it's at. The cultural scene in San Francisco can be described as “advanced” thanks to the opera, the ballet, art galleries, and museums, which offer many different entertainment options throughout the year. To find out what's going on where and when, check out either the “San Francisco Weekly” or the “San Francisco Bay Guardian,” both of which are free and list various events a-happening around the town. The “San Francisco Chronicle” is another great resource for finding out what's going on around town.
One of the most well-known places in San Francisco is the Castro District, home to nightclubs and bars that cater to a predominately gay crowd. Another popular area for nightlife in San Francisco, particularly with the post-collegiate demographic are the bars around the Chestnut and Union Streets, while the North Beach area caters to just about everyone. If you're looking for the grunge and “skater scene” in SF, head down to the Lower Haight district. Alternative nightlife options are abundant in San Francisco, particularly in the South Market and Upper Haight area. The Mission District has been hit by a wave of gentrification in recent years and swanky new bars continue to crop up all over the area.
The San Francisco Ballet is one of the oldest dance companies in the U.S. They have performances from February to May at the Civic Center's War Memorial Opera House. From September until December you can see the San Francisco Opera, but be aware that tickets are scarce. The San Francisco Symphony performs all year round (except in July and August) at the Louise M. Davies Hall in the Civic Center.
Stage performances are abundant, as are theaters. The Curran Theater is your best bet for Broadway shows, while the award-winning Lamplighters Music Theater specializes in musicals with three productions a year. San Francisco has always had a penchant for the eclectic, so if you're looking for something a little different you might want to try seeing the Tony award-winning San Francisco Mime Troup, the Pickle Family Circus, or the cabaret-style Beach Blanket Babylon.
Arts and Entertainment around Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is a college town filled with all sorts of entertainment options. The downtown area is filled with taco bars, sports bars, and delightful little cafés, many of which offer karaoke, happy hours, and live music performances. The main drag in Santa Cruz is Center Street. If you're not familiar with the area, this is the best place to start off your night - most venues are within walking distance of one another.
Arts and Entertainment around Monterey Bay, California
Entertainment in Monterey Bay is centered around Alvarado Street, which is chock-full of restaurants, cinemas, coffee shops, and pubs. To check out what's going on while visiting the area, pick up a copy of the local free rag, the “Coast Weekly,” which lists all the goings-on in the area. The area's other free magazine with entertainment listings is “Go!” magazine and, along with “Coast Weekly,” both can be found in bookstores, cafés, and visitor centers located all across the area.
Carmel, on the southern side of the Monterey Peninsula, is home to two different theaters, the Outdoor Forest Theater and the Golden Bough Theater. Both venues occasionally offer musical productions, comedies, Shakespearean drama, and movie screenings.
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