San Francisco
Before John Woo, Ang Lee and Wong Kar-wai hit multiplex marquees, they brought down the house in the Four Star’s postage-stamp-sized screening rooms…
Must-see entertainment in California
Anaheim
This dining, shopping and entertainment complex just east of Disneyland (walk or take the ART shuttle) has a family-friendly bowling alley and cineplex,…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Get your salsa, rumba and bachata (Dominican dance) on at this high-ceilinged, stadium-sized Latin venue that books slick international touring acts. Most…
San Francisco
For people who swear they'll never sing in public, Encore lowers the stakes – this place is a dim rumpus room, where your audience lounges on Naugahyde…
Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame
San Joaquin Valley
Housing a small theater, recording studios and displays on local legends, this space celebrates past icons and fosters new talent. Check the schedule for…
Berkeley
On campus, this ticket office has information on all UC Berkeley sports events. Some sell out weeks in advance such as the famous football frenzy between…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
Like other aging Sunset Strip venues, the Whisky coasts more on its legend status than current relevance. Yup, this was where the Doors were the house…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Views are mesmerizing from the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, where tourists and couples on date nights cut loose and dance to live bands …
Sonoma Valley
This race track attracts some big-name racing events, but the funnest are the good old-fashioned Wednesday night drag and drift races. For $50, you can…
San Diego
San Diego's Major League Baseball team team plays in the handsome Petco Park stadium in the East Village. Tickets are usually available at the gate,…
City National Grove of Anaheim
Anaheim
At this indoor 5000-seat venue, be entertained by headliners from classic rockers to modern rockers, comedy and speakers, plus ‘locally grown’ rock bands…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Forget blockbusters – here San Franciscans catch the latest art-house flick or whatever won best foreign film at the Oscars with reserved seating in cushy…
La Jolla
Inside the Mandell Weiss Center for the Performing Arts, this theater has sent dozens of productions to Broadway, including Jersey Boys, Peter and the…
Anaheim
The controversially (and oh-so-awkwardly) named Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play major-league baseball here from April to early October. Single-game…
San Diego
Theater productions for children with shows including everything from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to The Wizard of Oz and…
Greater Palm Springs
This video bar, nightclub and cafe in an old telephone exchange regales patrons with a rainbow of daily drinks specials plus events such as Sunday Disco…
Sequoia National Park
Cellar Door serves wine with live music in a subterranean club on Main St. The events are all over the place – a Metallica cover band one night, salsa…
San Luis Obispo
On the CalPoly campus, SLO’s biggest cultural venue presents an internationally spiced variety of concerts, theater, dance recitals, stand-up comedy and…
Santa Monica
With two stages and a gallery, the Edgemar also provides a platform for crossover collaborations between playwrights, musicians, actors, dancers and…
Anaheim
The Anaheim Ducks play hockey from October to April at this indoor venue. Professional rodeo events, fight nights and megaconcerts round out the schedule…
Hollywood
Housing three separate performance spaces, the Hudson serves up independent productions of plays and musicals. Recent productions include a musical parody…
Russian River Area
Hosts live acoustic-only jazz, blues and cabaret nightly in summer (weekends in winter). Families are welcome as the cabaret doubles as an American…
Oakland
For an eclectic calendar of indie, punk and experimental sounds, burlesque shows and fun DJ dance parties, this club hits the spot. Come for a mix of…
South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
Catch up-and-coming stand-up comedians doing their funny shtick at the intimate cabaret theater inside Harvey’s old-school casino.
Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts
San Joaquin Valley
In the center of Fresno’s hippest neighborhood, it’s hard to miss the neon deco palace that opens its stage to touring rock and jazz acts and seasonal…
San Diego
Bands from Smashing Pumpkins to Death Cab for Cutie all rocked the Casbah on their way up the charts and it’s still a good place to catch tomorrow’s…
Berkeley
California Memorial Stadium (1923) is the University of California, Berkeley 63,000-seat sports venue. Unnervingly, the Hayward Fault runs just beneath it.
San Diego
This unique venue screens mostly classic American films in the open air in Mission Hills; during winter months the area is covered and the patio heated.
Los Angeles
A 15-theater multiplex booking in blockbusters most of the year, and home of the Pan African Film Festival.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
At this 1910 venue, community-theater musicals, dramas and comedies as well as film screenings take place under the stars by flickering fire pits.
San Joaquin Valley
This huge, state-of-the-art performing arts complex in downtown Modesto brings great musical, dance and theater acts to town.
Sacramento
Sacramento's minor-league baseball team plays across the river at Raley Field, with views of the art-deco Tower Bridge.
Monterey
Waterfront dive showcases live local blues, jazz and rock bands nightly after 8:30pm or 9pm. Skip the food, though.
Sacramento & the Central Valley
Chico's contemporary gallery exhibits artworks, and hosts boundary-pushing literary readings, music and theater.
San Diego
Situated in the Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Grant shows popular musicals and other Broadway-style productions.
Sacramento & the Central Valley
Screens international and alternative films. Monday is 'cheap skate night,' with all seats just $4.
Sacramento
Classic, foreign and indie films screen at this historic 1938 movie house with a digital upgrade.
Sacramento
The tiny back room of this cool dive hosts some of the best indie bands that come through town.
La Jolla
Come here for quality concerts at UCSD’s Mandeville Auditorium running from October to June.
San Joaquin Valley
This historic theater has stood here since 1934 and continues to put on films and live music.
