Spring is just around the corner in San Francisco, so break out your muscle shirts, short shorts and shades—because this fair city boasts sunnier, warmer weather than most of the east coast with less humidity—the perfect climate for gallivanting outdoors. So whether you’re looking for a dizzying, aromatic spread of rainbow-colored blooms, a festoon of floral prints for your wardrobe, or simply want to show off those new short shorts at an open-air street fair, we’ve got you covered with our top 5 to-dos for March:
1. Sniff It
(The flowers, we mean.) We promised flowers—and you got ’em. Check out these flower-themed celebrations, exhibits and events happening across the city:
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An annual favorite in San Francisco, Macy’s Flower Show (Macy’s Union Square – Sunday, Mar. 23 – Sunday, Apr. 6) showcases “the rejuvenating power of the season,” featuring special events, music, cooking and more. Check out their website for a full list of events.
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See how local designers turn beautiful bouquets into stunning works of art at the Bouquets to Art exhibit at the de Young Museum of San Francisco (Tuesday, Mar. 18 – Sunday, Mar. 23). While you’re there, be sure to check out the outdoorsy-themed Modern Nature: Georgia O’Keeffe and Lake George exhibit (through Sunday, May 11).
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Stop by the springtime events at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, including magnolia cocktails—delicious!
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A beautiful, Victorian Greenhouse in Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers thrills visitors year-round with an array of tropical plants, flowers—and of course, butterflies. The conservatory is free to all the first Tuesday of every month.
2. Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day at the Pub
St. Patrick’s Day (Monday, Mar. 17) is one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year—so dip into a dive anywhere around San Francisco for your fill of Guinness and craic, Gaelic for a mixture of music, good friends and fun. Stumped on your venue? Check out these eight places to celebrate shamrocks and leprechauns in San Francisco. Crawl SF also offers meritorious pub suggestions.
Also, check out a list of St. Paddy’s Day events in other cities around the US to get some ideas.
3. And for Film Fanatics…
Aficionados of Asian film and culture will appreciate the Center for Asian American Media’s (CAAM) CAAM Fest (Thursday, Mar. 13 – Sunday, Mar. 23), featuring a smorgasbord of events and screenings, from short documentaries to full-length films, at venues across the Bay Area.
Don’t miss the opening night!
4. Show Off Those Short Shorts at Sunday Streets SF
Grab your short shorts and explore SF! From the Sunday Streets SF website: “Sunday Streets closes stretches of city streets to automobile traffic, and opens them to people for several hours on a various Sundays throughout the year, so participants can enjoy a large, temporary, public space where they can bike, walk, run, dance, do yoga, or do any other physical activity. Upcoming Sunday Street revelries will be in Embarcadero (Mar. 9), Tenderloin (Apr. 13) and Bayview/Dogpatch (May 5).
5. Not Exactly the Kama Sutra…But Close Enough
Expect no shortage of Tantric moves as the human body becomes a display of art in the much-anticipated Yoga Exhibit (through Sunday, May 25) at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. If you don’t mind a few extra spectators, we suggest taking a gander on a Wednesday after 5 p.m. for discounted admission ($10). If afterward you’re inspired by the calming images of Yoga, check out one of these local relaxation hot spots.
What other fabulously festive events in and around San Francisco do you plan to check out this spring? Let us know in the comments!
