December 4
Benicia Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting
First Street merchants along with Benicia Main Street host this ever-popular open house at the beginning of the Christmas Season. Merchants offer beverages and treats and show off their holiday goods while costumed carolers sing traditional Christmas Music. Live entertainment, wagon rides, and wine tasting add a festive atmosphere to this family event.
When: 6:00 PM—9:00 PM
Where: Main Street and First Street, Benicia
Cost: Free
More Information: https://www.beniciamainstreet.org/
December 5
10th Annual Oakland Children’s Holiday Parade
Curious George. The Raggs. Clifford. Berenstain Bears. Bob from Sesame Street. Santa. Mention the names and watch a kids eyes light up! Assemble them all into one parade, and open the festive holiday season with delight for children and the people who love them.
When: 2:00 PM
Where: Broadway and 11th Street to 20th Street, to Harrison Street
Cost: Free
More Information: https://www.oaklandholidayparade.com
December 6
Make Something Pary
As part of Christ Church of Berkeley and Rockridge’s participation in the Advent Conspiracy, Project Peace is delighted to announce our inagural Make Something Party. Instead of participating in the mass buying frenzy that precedes the Holiday Season join in on our Make Something Party. We will be making items in workshops, watching folks demonstrate craft techniques, and offering kits to take home and get started right away. Give a small donation towards the cost of materials, and leave with gifts that are all the more special for the effort you’ve put into them.
When: 12:30-2:00 PM at Gaia Arts Center or 3:30-5:00 PM at Glitter & Razz, 5951 College Ave
Where: Gaia Arts Center and Glitter & Razz
Cost: Free
More Information: https://www.makesomethingparty.blogspot.com/
December 7
Yelp Unwrapped! Holiday Party
If you like to party, this is the event for you! At Yelp Unwrapped, enjoy:
BOOZE:
Complimentary alcoholic libations from… (keepin’ it local!)
San Francisco’s Skyy vodka https://www.skyy.com/
Paso Robles’ Firestone beer https://firestonewalker…/
Napa Valley’s Scott Harvey wine https://www.yelp.com/bi…
For the N/A folks, we’ll also have Honest Tea https://www.honesttea.com/, Pom https://pomwonderful.com/ and Dry Sodahttps://www.drysoda.com/ available.
FOOD:
Over 20 Bay Area restaurants will be throwing down bites, including…
RNM https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Oola https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Poesia https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Ike’s Place https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Local Kitchen & Wine Merchant https://www.yelp.com/bi…
San Francisco Soup Company https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Mezes https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Espetus Churrascaria https://www.yelp.com/bi…
2223 Restaurant https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Best-O-Burger https://www.yelp.com/bi…
TCHO https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Cups And Cakes Bakery https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Urban Tavern https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Pacific Catch https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Icebee https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Triptych https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Moussy’s Cafe https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Urban Picnic https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Emporio Rulli https://www.yelp.com/bi…
The Cakemaker https://www.yelp.com/bi…
The Taco Shop at Underdogs https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Gelataria Naia https://www.yelp.com/bi…
Samovar Tea Lounge https://www.yelp.com/bi…
ENTERTAINMENT:
-Live fanny pack sewing from Timbuk 2 https://www.yelp.com/bi…
-Live art installation courtesy of Pacific Arts Collective https://www.pacificartc…/
-Lounge area from Bushwaffle https://www.bushwaffle.com/
-Taiko drum troupe performances
-Hip hop dance battles
-Hubba Hubba Hubba revue performances https://www.yelp.com/bi…
-The Workshop’s DIY zone with custom beer coozies sewn live, live silk screening and more! https://www.yelp.com/bi…
-Live art from ArtNowSF with artists painting from the inside of plexi-glass boxes https://artnowsf.com/wo…
-The Pandora dance room with the creators of the Music Genome Project https://www.pandora.com/
-DJ Kid Lightning from N.A.S.A. https://www.myspace.com…
-Updos from the San Francisco Institute of Cosmetology https://www.yelp.com/bi…
-Massages from Psoas Massage https://www.yelp.com/bi…
-Photo booth fun from The Laugh Box https://www.yelp.com/bi…
-And another photo booth with Santa… and Blackie the Mini Pony dressed up as a reindeer! https://www.yelp.com/bi…
OTHER FUN STUFF:
-Limousine transportation will be available from SV to SF the night of the event courtesy of Gateway Limousinehttps://www.yelp.com/bi…
-Coverage of the event courtesy of Gopher Hole Productions https://www.yelp.com/bi…
We’re also bringing along one of our favorite Bay Area charities, One Brick https://www.onebrick.org/, so if you feel like giving back to the community… this is a great way to do so.
This is the biggest event in Yelp San Francisco’s history, and we’re opening up the celebration to Elites and non-Elites alike (that’d be you). If you’d like to attend, RSVP at the top of the page. If you’ve got friends that want to take part as well, have them open up a Yelp account and sign up too!
When: 8:00—10:00 PM
Where: The Westin St. Francis 335 Powell St, San Francisco
Cost: Free
More Information: https://www.yelp.com/events/san-francisco/personal-injury-attorneys-yelp-unwrapped-holiday-party
December 8
Write Your Story: The Splendid Gift of Not Knowing, Writer Workshop with Denise Michelle Harris
Tuesday, December 8th @ 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Hayward Main Library, 835 C St. at Mission Blvd., Hayward, CA. 94541 (2 Blocks from Hayward BART)
Denise Michelle Harris, author of the bestselling novel Sweet Bye-Bye, continues her free writer’s workshop series. One of the most common fears expressed by writers is, “I don’t have any good ideas.” A difficult lesson a writer must learn is that uncertainty is an integral part of the writing process. Denise will lead workshop participants in exercises from The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing by Alice LaPlante, aimed at helping you to harness the inevitable doubt and uncertainty of the creative process in order to begin discovering your own voice and material. This workshop will be based on Chapter 2: The Splendid Gift of Not Knowing. Workshop participants can complete the exercises before class, and, time permitting, will have the opportunity to share excerpts from their writing with other workshop participants. Bring your questions and get your creative juices going. Advance registration required – call 510-881-7980 to sign up. For more information, or to obtain the writing exercises, contact Sally Thomas at 510-881-7700.
When: 6:00—7:30 PM
Where: Hayward Main Library, 835 C St. at Mission Blvd, Hayward
Cost: Free
More Information: Sally Thomas at 510-881-7700, or 510-881-7980 to register
December 9
Chanukah Celebration
Celebrate the traditions of Chanukah with a performance by Klezmania.
City Center, Broadway between 12th & 14th Streets
When: 12:00 PM—1:00 PM
Where: Broadway between 12th and 14th
Cost: Free
More Information: https://www.oaklandcitycenter.com
December 10
Oakland Unwrapped! Holiday Buy Night
More than a craft fair, this event is a serious alternative to malls, with gifts for everyone.
When: 5:00 PM—10:00 PM
Where: Inside Jack London Market, 55 Harrison @ Water St.
Cost: Free
More Information: https://www.oaklandunwrapped.org
Andy Gillin received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has written and lectured in the field of plaintiffs’ personal injury law for numerous organizations. Andy is a highly recognized wrongful death lawyer in California.