Get out and explore Bay Area events this spring
By Caroline Mooser
Make the most of the warm weather and add these events to your bucket list for spring. In the words of chef Emeril Lagasse, kick your Saturdays and Sundays up a notch and enjoy.
42nd Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Japantown, San Francisco
Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 11, 12, 18 and 19
An annual, two-weekends-long celebration of spring and San Francisco's Japanese-American community featuring a parade, street vendors and live entertainment.
Poets Micah Ballard, Andrew Joron and David Meltzer will be reading at City Lights Bookstore in North Beach at 261 Columbus Avenue on Monday, Apr. 13 at 7 p.m.
Earth Day 2009 Restoration and Cleanup
Saturday, Apr. 25
The California State Parks Foundation holds a massive cleanup at various locations throughout the state. Registering on the Web site allows participants to find the project locations nearest to them.
Former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and star of "30 Rock" Tracy Morgan will perform at Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco on Friday, Apr. 24 and Saturday, Apr. 25 at 8 and 10:15 p.m. and on Sunday, Apr. 26 at 8 p.m.
Rivers of Chocolate Festival
Sunday, Apr. 26, 1 to 5 p.m.
Held at the Santa Clara Mission Gardens last year, this fundraiser will now take place at Mountain Winery in Saratoga. While tickets are a steep $85, the proceeds from the afternoon of wine and chocolate will benefit EHC Life Builders, an organization supporting the homeless youth in Silicon Valley.
Drag Show 2009
Saturday, May 2
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. in the California Mission Room.
The event is sponsored by Santa Clarans for Social Justice.
Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival
Sunday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Held at Plaza de Cesar Chavez and Guadalupe River Park, an average of 300,000 people attend the once a year event event highlighting Mexican-American culture.
KaBoom
Saturday, May 9, 4 to 10 p.m.
Piers 30/32, San Francisco
Classic rock radio station KFOG describes KaBoom as "Northern California's largest fireworks display synchronized to a world-class rock soundtrack." KFOG -- 97.7 San Jose and 104.5 San Francisco -- hosts the event every year, and this year musical performances by Los Lonely Boys and Susan Tedeschi will be featured.
Left Coast Live
May 11 to 15
In and around 1st Street between San Fernando & Williams streets.
Experience some of the Bay Area's best bands in downtown San Jose. Advertised as "five days, 30 venues and 60 bands," the event features everything from rock, jazz, rap, rockabilly and urban soul.
Concerts are held at multiple venues for the over-21 crowd, but shows at the outdoor stages are open to all ages.
Monday through Thursday concerts are free, and Friday tickets are $25-30.
Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation Retreat
Saturday, May 16, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Held at the San Francisco First Unitarian Universalist Church, this day-long retreat with Bill Weber and Jurgen Mollers is perfect for those trying meditation for the first time or wanting to enhance their meditation experience. The event is hosted by San Francisco Insight Meditation Community.
Bay to Breakers 2009
Sunday, May 17
No Santa Clara student's spring quarter is complete without experiencing Bay to Breakers. Get your costumes ready.
Fleetwood Mac Unleashed
Thursday, May 21, 8 p.m.
The band will be performing at HP Pavilion.
Bay Area Headliners
Flight of the Conchords will be at the Berkeley Community Theatre on Monday, May 25 at 6 and 9 p.m.
Ben Harper and Relentless7 perform Wednesday, May 27 at 8 p.m. at the Fillmore.
Dane Cook at HP Pavilion on Sunday, May 31 at 8 p.m.
Fiesta Filipina
Jun. 13 - 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco at Polk and Grove streets
Also known as the Philippine Independence Day Celebration, the fiesta includes the "Filipina Idol Contest" and a dance competition.
Refer to www.sf.funcheap.com for more events this spring.
Contact Caroline Mooser at (408) 551-1918 or cmooser@scu.edu.