A roundup in indoor fun in the Bay Area. Pictured: One of the attractions at Ghost Golf in Concord.
Check out our favorite Bay Area spots for affordable fun out of the elements
Beyond the obvious drought implications, there are many reasons to look forward to a rainy January in the Bay Area.
Rather quietly, one small venue at a time, the region has become a pretty great place to find quirky, fun and affordable indoor entertainment.
Three covered miniature golf courses have opened in the past decade, two in shuttered video rental shops. At least as many video game arcades have emerged. And there seem to be more unique comedy options than ever — with regular events in movie theaters, a laundromat and a sporting goods store.
So in the doldrums of January and February, when most new movie releases are atrocious and the rainstorms occasionally reach biblical
levels, we bring you the first Chronicle Datebook Indoor Issue. We’ve profiled one of the area’s treasures — Ghost Golf in Concord — and made a list of eight more endorsed outings, with a few honorable mentions.
We placed several restrictions. To qualify, the activity must be indoors, cost less than $20 for one person to enter and either be independently owned or operated as a nonprofit. (No nationwide chains or anything coowned by a celebrity.) We didn’t include movie theaters, bowling alleys or comic book shops — each are worth their own story at some point down the road. Roller skating in a church
David Miles Jr. is the Sk8father, roller-skating mayor of Golden Gate Park since the late 1970s, and all-around bringer of joy and eclectic roller-skating events. His latest and perhaps coolest endeavor ever is the Church of 8 Wheels, a regular roller-skating meetup at the Sacred Heart Church on 554 Fillmore St. The church halls will be filled with funky music, old-school vibes and that fabulously musty rental skate smell. We’re declaring this the safest first date in San Francisco history.
Also look for: Redwood Roller Rink in Redwood City, the Golden Skate in San Ramon, Paradise Skate Roller Rink in Antioch.
The Church of 8 Wheels: Friday-Sunday, hours and themes vary. (Friday nights are 18-over.) $5-$20. 554 Fillmore St., San Francisco. See www.churchof8wheels.com for hours, prices and more details. Pirate-themed mini golf
We’ve seen a boom in themed indoor miniature golf, from the animatronic/ Haunted Mansion vibe of Ghost Golf in Concord to the artsier atmosphere of Subpar in Alameda. Buccaneer Bay Mini Golf preceded them all, offering a pirate mini-golf experience in the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s Neptune Kingdom. It’s a great deal — you can play a full round and ride the Giant Dipper twice for under $20.
Also look for: Subpar in Alameda, Urban Putt in San Francisco, Ghost Golf in Concord.
Buccaneer Bay Mini Golf: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. (Closed Jan. 23-27 for maintenance.) $6 per person. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. www.beachboardwalk.com Slot car racing in Alameda
Since it opened in 2012, Subpar has filled its space nicely, with an 18-hole Bay Area-landmark-themed golf course (taco truck hole!), Skee-Ball and air hockey. But the biggest addition since opening was the 100-foot, six-lane slot track race course, which has drawn a nice mix of hard-core racers (who bring their own cars) and novices from off the street. Participants get twice as much time if they bring their own car, but 12 minutes may be enough adrenaline for a newcomer.
Subpar slot car racing: Open daily. Slot car racing is $5 for one 12-minute session, or two sessions if you bring a car. 1511 Park St., Alameda. See www.subparminigolf.com for hours.
Tour a historic aircraft carrier
The Hornet may or may not be haunted. (That’s a big theme on the decommissioned aircraft carrier around Halloween.) This we know for sure: It served in World War II and the Vietnam War and received the Apollo 11 and 12 capsules — Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins were briefly quarantined on the vessel because of a fear of moon germs. The carrier is filled with knowledgeable volunteers, and it’s a wonderful tour, ghosts or no ghosts.
U.S.S. Hornet Museum: Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10-$20. (Children 6-under and members free.) 707 W. Hornet Ave., Alameda. More info at www.uss-hornet.org. Pay tribute to Robotron and NBA Jam
We’ve been enjoying the original High Scores Arcade from the beginning, when the 1980s arcade museum opened in 2013 on Park Street in Alameda. High Scores last year opened a second location in Hayward with a slightly different vibe — more newer games, plus some classics including the two-player “Atari Football,” “Omega Race” and a rare “Goonies” cabinet. Our two all-time favorites — “Robotron” and “NBA Jam” — have been there as well. (Games rotate constantly, so that’s not a guarantee.)
Also look for: High Scores in Alameda, Brewcade in San Francisco, Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda.
High Scores Hayward: Days and hours vary. $5 for one hour, $10 all day. (All machines on free play.) 1051 B St., Hayward. www.highscoresarcade.com Roller derby queens playing by the rules
Bay Area Derby dispenses with the theatrics and features a competitive, athletic roller derby, on a flat track with a fast pace. The women’s derby league also has fun with the sport’s badass reputation, with names like Murderyn Monroe, Chili Con Carnage and Thea Pocalypse competing for teams including the San Francisco ShEvil Dead, the Berkeley Resistance and the Richmond Wrecking Belles. The group, previously competing in Richmond, moved some of its regular-season matches to an excellent new location — the 16th Street train station in Oakland — and is selling season passes on its www.bayareaderby.com site.
Bay Area Derby: Matches on March 18, April 22, May 13, June 3, July 15 and Aug. 19. See www.bayareaderby.com for times, locations, and season ticket packages. Comedy in a sporting goods store
It’s fun to splurge and go to one of the bigger comedy clubs in San Francisco. But if you really love comedy — and a good deal — be sure to mix in some up-and-comers as well. BrainWash laundromat and cafe has a big comedy schedule and a nurturing environment. But we love the vibe of Good Times in the Grotto, the once-a-month comedy showcase in a surprisingly big auxiliary room at a Sports Basement sporting goods store. The lineup is memorably diverse, with a mix of newcomers and more experienced stand-ups from all over the city.
Also look for: BrainWash Cafe in San Francisco, Mission Position at the Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco
Good Times in the Grotto: 6:30 p.m., Feb. 10. (Second Friday of each month.) Suggested $5 donation. Sports Basement, 1590 Bryant St., S.F. www.sportsbasement.com Cool old San Francisco stuff in El Cerrito
Playland-Not-at-the-Beach takes a collection of artifacts, electromechanical games and pinball from the old Playland amusement park and Sutro Baths eras, adds a few more modern machines and places it all in a labyrinth-like warehouse in El Cerrito. The nostalgia factory is part museum, part penny arcade and all San Francisco history. Mostly open during daytime, but look for the occasional Playland After Dark — the next one is on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 5 to 10 p.m.
Also look for: Musee Mecanique, San Francisco
Playland-Not-at-the Beach: Saturday-Monday 10 a.m to 5 p.m. (See website for full schedule.) 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org