BAY AREA VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS
Just because you’re stuck at home during the COVID-19 shutdown doesn’t mean you can’t explore the greater world. Here’s a sampling of family-friendly shows, concerts, activities and more streaming (and occasionally in-person again) over the next several weeks.
IN-PERSON
Curiodyssey’s Outdoor Museum and Zoo: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. Outdoor exhibits include “Illusions” and “The Nature of Patterns.” Reserve tickets in advance. $13 to $16. https://curiodyssey.org/
VIRTUAL
African American Online Film Festival: Now through Nov. 29. This annual festival includes 140 films by filmmakers from 18 countries sharing their distinctive voices and points of view through lenses not often available to an American public. https://bherc.tv/ All-star Storytime Series with Berkeley Symphony: 11 a.m. Fridays on Berkeley Public Library’s Facebook page. Each week, a Bay Area celebrity will read a beloved children’s book with musical accompaniment by members of the Berkeley Symphony. www. facebook.com/berkeleypubliclibrary/
BATS Improv Online Shows: This San Franciscobased improv group will stream free shows each week to bring a little improv magic into homes via Zoom. At 7:30 p.m. on the night of each show, click the link next to the show you want to see to connect to the BATS virtual theater. www. improv.org/online-shows/
Bay Area Children’s Theatre Creativity Corner:
This virtual “playborhood” offers kids stories that unfold via video, plus followup activities they can do on their own, inspired by the make-believe they’ve seen. Parents can submit their children’s creations to BACT, which is planning to share examples online. https:// bactheatre.org
Beat the Lock Escape Room: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Solve a virtual escape room with your friends via an audio/video call and live feed that lets you play by instructing a game master to search for clues. $25. www. beatthelock.com
Bringing BADM to You:
Bay Area Discovery Museum offers a series of fun, engaging learning experiences to enjoy as a family. Explore three different themes — science and math, body and brain and talk and play — designed to develop skills for children to succeed in school and life. Within each theme, you’ll find both step-by-step videos and activities with writtenout instructions. https:// bayareadiscoverymuseum. org/bringing-badm-to-you Broadcast Platform, Marshstream: 7:30 p.m. nightly. Programming varies by night with offerings including short performances, book/writer discussions, singalongs, storytelling, game nights and more. Find more information at: www. themarsh.org.
Coastal Artists Virtual Pumpkin Festival: Now through December. All coastal artists in San Mateo County, from Montara to Pescadero, will be featured for virtual sales. Categories include painters, photographers, jewelers, digital artists, potters, fiber arts/ textiles, food and more.
The main festival has been canceled due to COVID-19 closures. www.madeonthecoast.com
Diablo Symphony Orchestra Virtual Concerts:
First Thursday of each month. Featuring works that have been performed and recorded at Lesher Center for the Arts in past years. www. diablosymphony.org/
18 Reasons Cooking School: Check out a slate of new online classes. You may not have everything listed in the equipment and shopping list, but instructors will give you guidance on how to adapt their recipes to what you have access to. Learn new recipes and techniques. https://18reasons.org/ Festival Napa Valley’s Remote Ensemble Project: This virtual performance of the “Va, Pensiero” chorus from Verdi’s opera “Nabucco” features instrumentalists and singers from 26 states, eight countries and five continents. They represent two dozen orchestras, ensembles, opera companies and music conservatories, such as the Juilliard School, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Orchestra. The performance can be seen on Festival Napa Valley’s YouTube channel: https://youtu. be/jhv9wlvnyxa
Full Moon Fridays — Live Cabaret Series: 8 p.m. Fridays. Featuring live cabaret style performances. https://www.facebook. com/42ndstreetmoon/ Funkmode Dance Studio Digital Workouts: Offering free dance videos, including breakdance, hip hop, youth dance party and more. Find the videos at https://www. youtube.com/user/funkMODE Harpsichordist/organist Arthur Omura Solo Performance: 7 p.m. Nov. 28. Broadcast live from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. After the performance, Omura will answer audience questions and comments submitted from the online chat. Donations, $10-$20. https://bit.ly/2gu2gw3 Hillsdale High School Drama — “Almost, Maine”: Through Dec. 13. A romantic comedy with student actors playing 19 different characters. Free. Registration is required. www.hillsdaledrama.com
If You Knew My Story: Through Monday. Palo Alto Players presents a cabaret of songs and scenes that celebrates the new normal. $20. https://bit.ly/2tylmjw
Lamplighters Music Theatre Multimedia:
Lamplighters brings their wit and musicality to the virtual stage with an inside look into the company and the rich history of Gilbert and Sullivan. The monthly assortment includes new interviews and video essays, alongside archival vignettes highlighting the best of the company’s 68year performance history. Free. lmt.lamplighters.org/ patreon
Livermore Shakes Educates: A Shakespeare resource webpage for kids and parents, this is an extension of the company’s “So Wise So Young” program for second, third and fourth graders. http://livermoreshakes. org/educates/
Magical Bridge Foundation Virtual Concerts and Sing-a-longs: Enjoy free family-friendly, multigenerational and sensory-friendly shows at noon daily on the Magical Bridge Facebook page. https://www. facebook.com/pg/magicalBridge/events/
Moraga Art Gallery Virtual Tour: View the Moraga Art Gallery exhibit and hear artists talk about their work and what motivates them. Visit the Lamorinda Arts Alliance website for the link to the virtual tour: https:// laa4art.org
Mount Diablo Peace & Justice Center 2020Art & Writing Challenge: Middle and high school students in Contra Costa County are invited to submit visual art (any medium), creative writing and essays on the topic of “Our Connected Planet.” No fee. http://tinyurl.com/ mdpjc-artandwriting2020
“Dichterliebe (‘A Poet’s Love’)” from Opera San Jose: Available for streaming. In addition to English supertitles, Opera San Jose has announced plans to offer its virtual performances with Spanish and Vietnamese translations. $15-$50. www.operasj.org
Once on This Island: Dec. 5-20. Sunnyvale Community Players presents the tale of Ti Moune, a fearless peasant girl in search of her place in the world and ready to risk it all for love. $24.95. https://sunnyvaleplayers. org/
Opera San Jose — “Three Decembers”: Begins Dec. 3. An American opera about family — the ones we are born into and those we create. Gala opening Dec. 3 with post-show conversation. $40-$50. www. operasj.org/
Palo Alto Players — Homebound Cabaret Series: Through Dec. 13. These at-home cabaret experiences are streamed live with special guests. Through Nov. 22, “If You Knew My Story;” and Dec. 4-13, “Holiday Family Sing Along.” $20 to $50. https:// paplayers.org/season/
Persian and Central Asian Dance Classes:
Take daily classes on Zoom with teachers from all over the world, including Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Xinxiang and more. $10 to $20. www.pomegranategardendance.com
Playful People Productions Game Nights: 7 to 8:30 p.m. today and Dec. 18. Featuring musical theaterthemed trivia, dance-offs, bingo, musical chairs and more. $30. https://bit.ly/ POPFALL2020
School of Rock Remote Lessons: School of Rock is a performance-based music school for ages 5 to adult. Learn to play drums, guitar, keyboard, bass guitar and vocals by putting on seasonal rock shows. The school is offering a combination of one-on-one remote lessons and access to master classes on music theory, songwriting, instrument exploration and genre journeys. Cost varies. schoolofrock.com/sanramon Second Saturday @ California Symphony: 7 p.m. solo and ensemble performances include “Season in Song” on Dec. 12 with vocalists Kelley O’connor and Nicholas Phan. Free. Go to californiasymphony.org/ tickets-events/calendar. Shotgun Players — “The Light”: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 4-13, Virtual Ashby Stage. A rollercoaster ride of laughter, romance and despair. Nightly talk backs follow the performances. Pay what you can, starting at $8. https://shotgunplayers.org/online/article/thelight
Smuin’s Virtual Classes: Dancers of all levels participate in Zoom-based drop-in lessons covering styles from ballet to contemporary, to hip-hop. All classes are “pay what you can”. https://bit. ly/smuinclasses
Songs of Gratitude Virtual Concert: 6 p.m. Dec. 5. Filmed at Napa Valley venues, this celebration of the power of music features performances by pianist Audrey Vardanega, the Friction String Quartet, vocalists Kelley O’connor and Nicholas Phan, folk ensemble Los Cenzontles, Jookin’ dancer Ron “Prime Tyme” Myles, cellist Starla Breshears, and chanteuse and harpist Lucinda Belle, along with a remote vocal ensemble featuring Napa County high school choristers. Free. https://festivalnapavalley.org/programs/ virtual-performances/ songs-of-gratitude-virtualconcert/
Square One Yoga: Stay fit and grounded practicing live, interactive yoga. Check out the schedule of classes available at bayareane. ws/2yfh3oc.