Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
The pool table and TV are mostly ignored at this artsy Parisian-style cafe-bar, where the local crowd roars for free live jazz, DJs, vintage soul and…
Must-see entertainment in Northern California
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Throwing swanky soirees since 1916, the Verdi Club hosts bawdy storytelling nights, swing-dancing lessons, drag-star comedy shows, the odd lucha libre …
Berkeley
A world-renowned film center with an ever-changing schedule of international and classic films – cineastes should seek out this place. The spacious…
Oakland
The RIC straddles that line between a bar and a performance space; the beers are good and the bartenders are friendly, but for us, the big draw is a…
Oakland
This massive 1931 art deco masterpiece shows classic films a few times each month and is also home to the Oakland Symphony and Oakland Ballet. It…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Known for launching big talent (including Robin Williams, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres and David Cross), this historic stand-up venue is small enough for…
Santa Cruz
Over the years, this stage for local bands has seen big-time national acts perform, from Queens of the Stone Age to Snoop Dogg. Expect loads of punk…
San Francisco
A vast yet cozy venue with all the right moves, including Monday salsa dance classes, Russian karaoke (no language skills required) and indie rock acts…
Marin County
This 1906 saloon has live bands and country-and-western bric-a-brac everywhere you look. Prince Charles stopped in for an impromptu pint during a local…
Berkeley
At the south end of the University of California, Berkeley campus near Bancroft Way and Dana St, Zellerbach Hall features dance events, musical concerts…
San Luis Obispo
Recline your seat, put your feet up on the dash and munch on bottomless bags of popcorn at this classic Americana drive-in. Sticking around for the second…
Marin County
Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the park’s natural-stone, 3750-seat theater hosts the annual family-friendly ‘Mountain Play’ series…
San Jose
The San Jose Sharks – the city’s tremendously popular professional hockey team – play at this massive glass-and-metal stadium (formerly the HP Pavilion)…
Russian River Area
Dinner and a movie take on new meaning at this vintage-WWII Quonset hut converted to a cinema in 1950. In 2014 they finally added heat, but still supply…
Oakland
Once a vaudeville theater and silent-movie house, this 1926 beauty near Lake Merritt lures you in with its huge corner marquee (which sometimes displays…
Russian River Area
Raucous roadhouse bar, 4 miles east of Guerneville, with eclectic lineup of live bands. Shows start 6pm Saturday and sometimes Friday and Sunday too;…
Oakland
There's live music every night of the week at this ramshackle locals' favorite, which feels like a roadside juke joint plopped onto Grand Ave. The tunes…
Berkeley
This legendary club has almost 50 years of history and is conveniently located in the downtown arts district. It features great traditional folk, country,…
San Luis Obispo
This small-scale movie house showing foreign and indie flicks just happens to be the USA’s first solar-powered cinema. Seats are a bargain $5 on Mondays…
Gold Country
This brick fortress is one of California’s first theaters (1865) and has welcomed the likes of Jack London, Emma Nevada and Mark Twain to its stage. Now…
Coastal Highway 1
Shows mainstream, foreign and art films in a beautifully restored movie house. Sue, the ticket seller of 40 years, passed away in 2018, but her…
San Jose
Located near San Jose's airport, this is the home of the San Jose Earthquakes, the city's professional soccer team (season runs from February through…
Berkeley
This warmhearted community center presents dynamic dance classes and musical and visual arts events with a social justice bent. Look for a vibrant mural…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Line up at Union Sq's ticket booth to score half-price (or at least discounted) seats for unsold day-of, next-day or even future shows. Check the website…
Marin County
This small-town cinema with a retro pink-neon sign shows independent and foreign films on just one screen, plus live simulcast events such as opera,…
California Shakespeare Theater
Berkeley
Headquartered in Berkeley, with the fantastic outdoor Bruns Amphitheater east of the Berkeley Hills in Orinda as a venue, ‘Cal Shakes’ carries on a a warm…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
San Francisco's underground arts scene has taken up residence in a sunny Mission loft. Red Poppy hosts artist residencies, live jazz and roots music, and…
Berkeley
This outdoor, Greek-style amphitheater has been around since 1903, and is the oldest venue of its type in the country. Excellent sight lines, tons of…
Berkeley
Berkeley's solar-powered theater company stages exciting and provocative works in an intimate space. Offers pay-what-you-can tickets for preview shows,…
Sequoia National Park
A 1930s ‘talkie’ movie palace, the Fox has a stunning East Indian temple–themed interior and hosts film screenings, live music concerts, stand-up comedy…
Gold Country
One of several excellent Gold Country arts venues, the theater has nearly a 100-year-long history of presenting live drama, but nowadays schedules mostly…
The Peninsula
The university's jam-packed performing-arts calendar showcases orchestral and chamber music, opera, jazz, R&B and world-music artists and ensembles year…
Gold Country
Located in a restored tin warehouse in East Sonora, close to the Junction Shopping Center. This critically acclaimed company also performs in the Fallon…
Napa
A cabaret-style wine-and-beer bar, Silo’s offers varied music acts on Friday and Saturday nights. On Thursday it’s good for drinks. Buy tickets ahead of…
Monterey
Downtown Monterey cinema screens indie dramas, cutting-edge documentaries and offbeat Hollywood films. Drop by its Cafe Lumiere for locally roasted coffee…
Sacramento
A classic old movie house that’s been restored to its 1949 splendor. Hosts indie and foreign films and the annual Trash Film Orgy (trashfilmorgy.com) on…
Central Coast
Epitomizing Pismo Beach’s retro vibe, this old-fashioned bowling alley is just a short walk uphill from the pier. Blacklight ‘cosmic' and karaoke bowling…
Redding & Around
Try to catch some live music downtown at this refurbished 1935 art deco theater. Usually it hosts second-tier national acts, but if nothing else, take a…
Oakland
This laid-back movie house, pub and community-events space shows second-run and throwback indie films. Reasonably priced beer, wine, sandwiches and pizza…
Russian River Area
This always-busy tavern and beer garden has the town's most diverse live-music calendar, including reggae and open-mike nights, and sometimes hosts the…
