Something for Everyone in San Francisco! (Video)

JUSTINE MURPHY, SENIOR EDITOR, justine.murphy@photonics.com

A number of events will be happening when the photonics industry arrives in San Francisco next week. From comedy shows and live music … to art shows and museums … there is definitely something for everyone in the city by the bay.

The Castro Theatre will be showing some noir classics that week … a Circus Center cabaret will feature aerial acrobatics and magicians on January 27th … and some of the most talented—and cutest—canines will take the stage on January 27th and 28th in the Golden Gate Kennel Dog Club show.

There is also the award-winning Yerba Buena Gardens to visit, for public art, a children’s creativity museum, the Esplanade central gardens, open public space for community and cultural events, and even a historic carousel. Golden Gate Park is another city treasure, offering more than a thousand acres of green lawns and forests, bike paths, lakes and areas to stroll.

Also in the park are some of San Francisco’s top museums, including the de Young Museum, which showcases art from the 17th through 21st centuries, as well as modern and contemporary art, photography, international textiles and costumes. The Cable Car Museum features exhibits of huge engines and winding wheels that have pulled the cables for the city’s famous trams, as well as antique cable cars from the 1800s, old photographs, and mechanical displays.

The San Francisco Zoo and Gardens is another must-see attraction, as it houses 1,000 endangered and rescued animals representing 250 species. It also offers educational programs, talks and other events, all within 100 acres of peaceful gardens.

And this year, foodies rejoice! Photonics West coincides with a very tasty event in San Francisco. Produced by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, San Francisco Restaurant Week will be held January 22nd through the 31st, and is an annual celebration of the city’s world-class dining community. It’s a time for eateries to share their passion for the culinary arts.

About 130 restaurants are participating this year, and will showcase amazing foods through special pre-fix menus that highlight signature dishes, popular items and things their chefs simply love to cook. Some may even offer new menu items that they’re testing out. The menus are designed in multiple-course lunches and dinners, some of which are only available during this weeklong event.

So while you’re here for Photonics West, try to make time for these and other amazing San Francisco sites.