16 – ABCey Events

Enjoy the summer while it’s still here! This weekend is the perfect time to go out and try some new things. From a auction dinner event, to the ShipShow and Dirtybird BBQ, to PokeCon, to a very vegan Sunday, we have it all! Here at ABCey Events, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 top Bay Area and SF events to attend!

Top 5 SF events

1. Toast & Taste 2016

Fri, 8/12/16 | 5pm – 7:30pm | $50 – $125, buy here | ThirstyBear Organic Brewery

Indulge in one of SF events’s top dining experiences while you wine and dine your night away this Friday! You’ll be able to have great food and give back to the community at the San Francisco Private Dining Venue’s Annual Toast & Taste event. All proceeds will go to Compass Family Services, whose mission it is to end family homelessness. This special event includes a silent auction to a bunch of goodies! From gift certificates to the top SF restaurants to private tours of SFMOMA and the Giants Stadium to paid luxury hotel stays, make sure you! In addition, enjoy the “taste” part of this event with great wine/beer/cocktails, delicious appetizers, sample size entrees, and scrumptious desserts. So support an amazing cause, win some prizes, and have a wonderful tasty evening filled with small delights!

2. Dirtybird BBQ 2016: San Francisco

Sat, 8/13/16 | 12pm – 8pm | $19.50 – $40, buy here | Treasure Island

Dirtybird BBQs started out in Golden Gate Park, but has now expanded! Now Dirtybird events are held in Brooklyn to Seattle, and places in between. But now this BBQ is back in SF on Treasure Island this Saturday, and you won’t want to miss it! With its “country fair” theme, this SF event has everything from carnival games to kids activities. Also, it has the “Best in Show contests” and great food of course! For $20, you’ll get some top of the line BBQ to compliment that bumpin’ music alongside artists like Claude Von Stroke, Justin Martin, Christian Martin, J. Phlip, and Worthy and Ardalan.

3. PokeCon 2 at Spark

Sat, 8/13/16 | 11am – 9pm | $5 – $40, buy here | Spark Social SF

Are you a foodie? Well then, you’ve got to dive into this yummy fish salad called Poke. Poke is cut up into small cubes of sashimi and drizzled with sauce and seasoning that you will just drool for. At this PokeCon there will be some of the best poke vendors! In addition to poke, dole whips, lau lau, and special hawaiian drinks will also be served! So get your taste buds on at this and experience the unique food with live music! Check out PokeCon 2’s event page for more info.

4. Very Vegan Sundays

Sun, 8/14/16 | 11am – 5pm | FREE | SoMa StrEat Food Park

Join hundreds of fellow vegans this Sunday at this Very Vegan Sunday! Invite your friends and family members, and enjoy the day at the SoMa StrEat Food Park. Admission is free, so everyone is welcome to come! There will be food trucks, popup vendors, beer, mimosas, and lots of vegan specials! Even if you aren’t vegan, the food is still super delicious! So what are you waiting for? Come hungry, and make your day vegan festive! Here is their Facebook event page.

5. The Ship Show – Sunday Morning Cruise of Shame(less)

Sun, 8/14/16 | board 8am-9am, cruise 9am-12pm | $30 or $35, buy here| 25+ years old | Hornblower Cruises-Pier 3

Jump aboard the San Francisco Spirit this Sunday morning for 4 hours of fun and shenanigans! Derek Hena presents this cruise filled with lots of music, drinking, partying, and adult fun! This cruise has full bars, including a Bloody Mary one, and food you can purchase, such as bacon, fruit parfaits, and breakfast burritos. While you sail along the bay, you’ll hear top notch DJs mixing hip-hop, disco, funk, and more! Moreover, you can celebrate Sunday Funday with tons of adult games like pantless congo lines, inappropriate coloring books, ping pong and tons of special surprises! Also, remember to get there early to be one of the first 150 guests and you’ll get a free mimosa! So down tons of drinks, partake in the antics, dance with your adult pals, and party on!

Are you excited for the weekend? Which of these Bay Area events will you be attending? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Outside Lands 2016 Survival Guide

Outside Lands 2016 is almost here! In less than a week, you’ll be able to experience live events, shows, food and other amazing activities. At ABCey Events, we’re looking forward to all the festivities and decided to put together an Outside Lands 2016 Survival Guide to ensure that you’d have an easier time. Our survival guide will prepare you with 10 pro tips and all the ins and outs of Outside Lands!

By Jennifer Fong, Jessica Li-Jo, Madeline Norling-Christensen, and Kristi Fujimoto

1. Pack Correctly

Now that you’ve got your tickets, what do you bring to Outside Lands? We would definitely recommend reusable water bottles that you can refill throughout the day, a blanket to sit on, a backpack to hold all your necessities, and cameras. All of these are a great starter pack to go to Outside Lands. Pack light and stay hydrated! To see the full list of do’s and dont’s of what to bring, check here.

2. Dress Smart

LAYER, LAYERS, LAYERS! For this 3 day music festival, you’ll want to dress comfortably in layers. One minute it’s sunny and the next, it’s foggy. SF weather is unpredictable! Yes, we all want to look Coachella cute, but this isn’t the time to forgo bringing a jacket. Also, keep it light because at the end of the day you’ll regret lugging around a heavy jacket! Did we mention to dress in layers? It’s that important.

Comfortable shoes are ALSO a must! Make sure your shoes can handle it all. With so many acts on 7 stages/places located throughout Golden Gate Park at different times, you’ll be rushing to get to them all and standing a lot. So avoid sore feet with comfy shoes!

3. $$$

Every place you can pay with cash, you can pay with your card. But don’t be that person who holds up the line! Cash is simpler without worrying about tips or needing reciepts. All of the vendors at the festival will accept cards and cash, but that’s not all! This is what’s new. You can now use your wristband as payment! You heard that right- you can add funds to your account using the Outside Lands App! So take advantage of this foodie feast this weekend and indulge! In additions, for every $75 you add to your wristband, Outside Lands will give you $5. But this offer is only available before the festival so go, go, go!

4. Nom Nom Nom

One of the best things about Outside Lands (besides the music) is the FOOD! Over 75 San Francisco restaurant partners and food trucks will be serving round’ the clock to make sure your taste buds are satisfied! Oysters, tamales, tacos, crab rolls, frozen custard bars, falafels, veggie dumplings, chicken and waffles…there is something for everyone, even the pickiest of eaters. Don’t miss out an incredible highlight of Outside Lands!

5. Go Mobile: Outside Lands 2016 App

If you’re going to Outside Lands, download the app now! Seriously, you will thank us later. Over 200,000 people attend this festival, so getting separated from your friends is basically inevitable. Don’t panic. With this app you can track your friends wherever they are! Also, this app has everyday’s entire lineup, so you’ll always know when and where your favorite artist is playing. You can add each each artist onto your own schedule and then share it with your #squad to keep everyone on the same page!

6. Your Lifeline, AKA Your Phone Battery

Were you really there if you didn’t Snapchat, Instagram, Tweet, or FB about it? Obviously not… Like most of the big festivals, Outside Lands has charging stations to save you. But try not to waste time and miss a performance by bringing a portable charger! Close apps you aren’t using, turn on low battery mode, and pray. Also, we’re warning you now: signal there SUCKS. 200k people are on every social media site and the Outside Lands app so expect a lot of lag. That being said…Don’t stay stuck to your phone. Take those important pics and then stop and experience the festival!

7. Simply Getting There

Getting to the city can be a hassle if not planned correctly. First off, don’t drive. Unless you’re willing to walk the extra mile (milesss), leave your car at home. However, you could bike easily from your far parking spot or where ever you are! You can rent a bike from these suggested places and there is even a secure bike valet at the park! In addition, there is also a shuttle service for $48.00 from Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to the park! Also, you can try taking public transportation. Services like Bart, AC Transit, Muni, Golden Gate Transit, and CalTrain run all day every 15-30 minutes. But public transportation will be super packed. So if you want to avoid the crowds, you can always conveniently use Uber, Lyft or even Rideshare. For additional information regarding transportation options, see here!

8. Living Situation

No need to wake up extra early to beat the morning traffic to get here. If you’re from out of town, think of Outside Lands as a vacation by staying at an SF hotel! So to help you out, Outside Lands 2016 has partnered up with certain hotels to give you great discounts! The hotels and their discounts are here: Hotel Zetta , Hotel Zeppelin , Hotel Abri , Joie De Vivre , Cavallo Point, and Stanford Court. In addition, all of these hotels are accessible through Muni. To learn more, click here.

Passion Pit fans rock out at Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park on Saturday Aug. 11, 2012 in San Francisco. (Photo by Alison Yin//Invision/AP)

9. Much More than Music

Take a break from music and check out what else Outside Lands has to offer. Take a minute (or 10) to enjoy everything that this one-of-a-kind festival has! From mini golf courses, to Wine Lands, Beer Lands, Eco Lands, magic, a Heinekin House, an arcade, and a the wide variety of shows other than music! Check out the Official Outside Lands 2016 Website for more info!

10. Last Minute Tips: bathrooms, lockers, and rest!

Bathrooms

Waiting in line for the bathrooms sucks, and unfortunately you will be doing A LOT of this at Outside Lands…Because the bathroom lines are at least 20-30 people long, you’ll be waiting around for 30+ mins. So plan to go between sets and you won’t miss a thing!

Lockers

Rest assured if you want to pack a bit more. There are lockers for rent at Outside Lands. Instead of having to go to Outside Lands ridiculously early to beat the crowd to get a locker, you can now reserve a locker online! But don’t wait, they sell out fast – the large lockers are already all sold out!

Rest

Rally all day by taking rest stops throughout the festival! Bring a blanket or just plop on the grass, enjoy some food, and listen to some tunes. Be careful not to sit in the middle of major walkways, but this park allows for lots of space to lay out and enjoy the unique atmosphere!

What are you most excited for at Outside Lands 2016? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and on Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: 7/1/16 – 7/3/16

July is already upon us and it’s almost the weekend! We hope you are just as excited as we are for Independence Day on Monday, and ABCey has you covered with all of your 4th of July events coming soon! Until then, make the most of your weekend and check out these fun Bay Area events!

1. Alameda County Fair

Fri. July 1st – Mon. July 4th, 2016| 11am-11pm |prices vary| 4501 Pleasanton Ave. Pleasanton, CA

If you haven’t gone to the fair yet, GO! This fair is a must-see attraction for everyone! For kids, there is a children’s park, adventure park, petting zoo, ferris wheel, and carnival. Adults can be entertained with horse races, a beer garden, a wine bar, shopping areas, and live concerts. There are only 4 more days til’ the fair is over, so come check it out before it’s too late!

2. 32nd Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival

Sat July 2nd & Sun July 3rd, 2016 | 10am-6pm | FREE | Fillmore St.–Jackson to Eddy St, San Francisco

Enjoy two days of music, food, art, and fun at the Fillmore Jazz Festival! This festival takes over more than 12 blocks and has every kind of food and craft imaginable. With 32 years under its belt, this festival has become incredibly popular and the largest free jazz festival on the West Coast. Join the other 100,000 people who attend this event and jazz up your weekend!

3. Golden Gate Park: Guided Trail and Nature Walk

Sat. July 2nd, 2016 | 10am-12pm | FREE | Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Experience nature this weekend and take a guided tour through Golden Gate Park. This guided tour is free and a perfect way to collect your thoughts while getting fit! With your own personal tour guide, you can learn all about the park, plants, and wildlife. So get out and enjoy the great outdoors with a nice stroll!

4. Free Opera at the Ballpark: Carmen

Sat. July 2nd, 2016 | 7:30pm | FREE, RSVP for Early Entry Tickets | AT&T Park; 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco

Mix things up this weekend by seeing a play…a free play! This Saturday, the San Francisco Opera is hosting a live simulcast and projecting their current play, Carmen, on AT&T Park’s huge video screen. You will definitely be entertained by Carmen, a femme fatale play with jealousy, danger, love and murder. Head out to the ball park to watch this captivating play and a special pre-show and intermission with the other 30,000 attendees!

5. Off the Grid: Presidio Picnic & Food Truck Party

Sun. July 3rd, 2016 | 11am-4pm | FREE | 103 Montgomery Street, Main Post, Presidio, San Francisco

This year, Off the Grid has revamped their picnic and food truck event held in Presidio Park. They now have over the 30 food and beverage trucks, free yoga classes, games, and music! You can also get clothes and accessories at their mobile shop, produce from their market, and help planning your next activity in San Francisco. There are also FREE shuttles, PresidiGo, that travel to Embarcadero BART, certain SF streets, MUNI, and around the park. Don’t miss the chance to relax on the grass field and enjoy great food and company!

Extra Event: Marin County Fair Fireworks and S’more Feast

Fri. July 1st, 2016 | 8:30pm – 10:00pm | FREE | McInnis Park: 310 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael, CA

Because this weekend is so jam packed, we have one more event that will get you in the mood for July 4th! Friday at McInnis Park, park rangers will have yummy s’mores to eat right before you walk to the top of the Nike Site to watch the 9:30pm Marin County Fair fireworks show. Fireworks are always fun especially with s’mores and tomorrow you can get both for free!

What are you planning on doing this weekend? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 10.25.13 – 10.27.13

Can you believe it’s already Thursday? That means we’re only one day away from getting our weekend started. Let ABCey help you decide which event to attend. We’ve got everything from a roller skating DJ party to a pet costume contest!

1. Final 2013 Off the Grid Party & Masquerade | Friday, October 25 | 5pm – 10pm | Fort Mason Center | Embark on a mobile food adventure with 32 other food trucks at Fort Mason. It is the last one scheduled for this season, and they’ll be celebrating it in style. So don’t forget to bring your masquerade mask! The event is totally free, but don’t forget cash for the food trucks. Also make sure you visit the witches bar and try some amazing Pumpkin Ale. Let us know how you like it!

2. Friday Night Outdoor Roller Skate DJ Party: “Midnight Rollers” | Friday, October 25 | 8:45pm | Ferry Building | If you’re looking for a unique way to experience the night life around San Francisco, this is perfect for you! Skaters meet up outside the Ferry Building then go on an awesome 10 mile skate tour around the city. Some stops include Pier 39, Palace of Fine Arts and AT&T Park just to name a few. So come bring your skates and ditch your usual Friday night gym routine!

3. Noe Valley Harvest Festival | Saturday, October 26 | 10am – 5pm | 24th St. and Sanchez St. | It’s a family affair at the 9th annual Noe Valley Harvest Festival! There will be non-stop entertainment for children and adults. They’ve got live bands playing all day. There will also be a pumpkin patch, a dog costume contest, dunk tanks and more. Make sure you stop by and bring the kids!

4. Wharf Fest 2013 | Saturday, October 26 |11am – 830pm | Fisherman’s Wharf | Just because there’s no fleet week this year, doesn’t mean we can’t have our own fun at the wharf! Enjoy a chowder competition, craft beer tasting, and a free screening of award winning film’s from last year’s San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival. Then top off your evening with an amazing fireworks show!

5. Pet Pride Day 2013 | Sunday, October 27 | 11am – 3pm | Golden Gate Park | Don’t think costumes are only meant for humans! Come out to Golden Gate Park and take part in the pet costume contest. If you don’t have a furry friend to dress-up, then maybe you can adopt one. There will also be a ton of pet vendors, as well as a pet trick competition. Come down and showcase your pet’s best costume!

6. A special event, Evening of Hope | Saturday, October 26 | 6pm – 11pm | Metreon | This year featuring Heklina as our Misstress of Ceremonies, is San Francisco’s must-attend fête complete with cocktails, culinary delights. There will be gorgeous models wearing fashion with a message – one-of-a-kind Condom Couture designed by local and national designers. They will also have an auction with great prizes, such as a classic San Francisco night at the Four Seasons, a chartered cruise on the Bay, and so much more!

Where do you plan to be this weekend? Sound off in our comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!