Matt Charnock

Heading to San Antonio on an empty stomach? Prepare to line it well courtesy of the best restaurants in San Antonio. The Alamo City is one of the most diverse places in Texas, serving up authentic eats in line with the heavyweights like Houston and Dallas. Looking for juicy Chinese char siu or desserts scooped straight out of Paris? You’ll find both in the Pearl District. Or how about Naples-style pizza? There’s a large pie waiting over on Blanco Road. Of course, it wouldn’t be Texas without some generously-portioned barbecue and Tex-Mex, and you’ll certainly find those all over the city. After hitting up all the best things to do in San Antonio including its colorful nightlife, you’re going to need the energy. Time to get your fork, chopsticks, and fingers fabulously wet: here are the best eats in San Antonio right now. Recommended: The best bars in San Antonio

Thirsty and looking for the best bars in Dallas? You’ve come to the right city. The Big D is home to a ton of excellent watering holes of all sorts, and their bartenders are ready to hit the spot. Bar hopping is particulrly fun in Dallas, because the pours are so big. If you don’t know what a Texan pour is, then just take your regular cup and double it. That standard goes for almost everywhere, whether you’re doing dives and speakeasies, or glistening hotel rooftops and lounges (some of them even serve champagne in wine glasses, because the flutes are too small!). It’s no wonder Dallas’ nightlife is always thriving, packed with bodies eager to take full advantage of such generosity. Texas may be covered in desert and cacti, but in Dallas it’s more like dessert and cocktails. Poolside soiree, stiff whiskey, or creative concoction, come experiment and get merry at the best bars in Dallas. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Dallas

Whether you’re cooling off from the Texas heat or gearing up for live music at one of the city’s endless venues, the best bars in Austin are ready to serve. One thing’s for sure: Austin is a bonafide booze-loving city. With year-round sunshine fueling outdoor events, a culture that welcomes social gatherings, and the constant need to rehydrate, there’s a good excuse for a generous pour all day and everyday. Luckily, a variety of watering holes cater to virtually all manners of taste. You’ll find top-notch dive bars along 6th Street and Rainey Street for those looking to get down and dirty with their crew. In the heart of downtown, there are swanky lounges and rooftop bars atop the best hotels in Austin that swell with class and Insta-friendly backdrops. And of course, there are exclusive speakeasies guaranteed to impress any date, no matter how long they’ve lived in town. Ready for a strong drink? Handpicked by the locals, here are the 27 best bars in Austin.RECOMMENDED: best things to do in Texas

The San Francisco Bay Area is known for its fantastic hiking, whether in the hushed quiet of redwood forests, across open terrain with spectacular views of the bay or the ocean, or even just an exhilarating saunter across the incredibly windy Golden Gate Bridge (if your hat’s not tight, you’ll lose it). From San Francisco to Oakland to Marin, here are the best places to hike in the Bay Area, to get your blood moving and your heart soaring. Getting out in nature with a brisk pace is truly one of the best ways to lift your spirits. RECOMMENDED: The best wildflower hikes in the Bay Area

In San Antonio, the best way to cool down, relax, and let loose is to head to one of the fantastic bars. First, it gets darn hot down here, so any AC’d venue or breezy patio with an ice machine appeals. Second, it is where everyone else is; so if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. The food and drink scene in this emerging Texan metropolis is thriving, with awesome new watering holes adding to the mix of local favorites and all-time legends. River City has really got it all…Love a hidden speakeasy with a heavy helping of jazz? You got it. How about drinking at a crazy immersive art exhibit? Come on over but don’t touch the paintings. Or maybe a sophisticated late night with bubbles? Pass the Amex and walk this way. San Antonio will cater to all your thirsty needs, no matter the budget. Just don’t forget to line your stomachs at the best restaurants in San Antonio first—those Texas-sized pours have proven lethal to out-of-towners. Now get ready to mix and mingle with our guide to the best bars in the city. 

Easy access to weekend getaways from San Francisco are one of the very best things about this city, thanks to a strategic location that places SF between beaches, forests and mountains. Head north to find the wineries of Napa and Sonoma, giant redwoods and a rugged coastline. South, you'll discover charming Carmel-By-the-Sea and stunning Big Sur. Also within driving distance: Yosemite and Tahoe, both bucket-list destinations that offer stunning scenery and tons of activities year-round.  So put a pin on visiting the bars and restaurants in San Francisco itself and hit the road for Sonoma wineries, Tahoe, Big Sur and more. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in San Francisco

Escape rooms became a buzzy trend over the past decade, but then fell away from the cultural zeitgeist during the pandemic. But now, with indoor activities re-opened, they're back – and they might just be an activity you didn't know you missed. After all, why not jump at the chance to be holed up a room with others (masked) after being holed up alone in your apartment for a year? The best escape rooms in San Francisco run the gamut from terrifying scenarios to clever kid-friendly puzzles, but no matter what room you choose to break out of, you'll need to combine right-brain rational with left-brain creativity to crack the code. (Don't forget to make sure you pick up the best coffee in San Francisco before you get locked in.) The rooms combine fictional narratives with real-life scenarios to apply the pressure as you race against the clock and the potential consequences. In San Francisco, you'll find escape rooms that range from intensely hard-to-solve games in the iconic Palace of Fine Arts building, to virtual escape rooms that use the latest tech. So gather your friends, family or significant other for a fun date idea and head to one of our favorite escape rooms in San Francisco. Given escape rooms make for a good team-building activity and you likely haven't seen your co-workers in a while, it could be a good office outing, too. No matter who you bring, don't forget to celebrate at one of the best bars in San Francisco after you break out. RECOMMENDED: The best things to d

San Francisco – home of the country's first openly gay elected official (Harvey Milk), birthplace of the rainbow flag, the first city in the United States to legalize gay marriage and host of the best damn Pride parade in the country—remains a major LGBTQ+ epicenter. (They don't call it the 'gay capital of the world' for nothing.) And queerdos from all over the planet still flock to San Francisco's Castro neighborhood to explore the city while being their most eccentric, authentic selves.  As the city begins to reopen this summer (just in time for Pride month!) it's nearly businesses as usual in SF. Restaurants and bars are welcoming patrons again and the creative community of drag queens and artists has begun throwing impromptu events around the city. Plus, many of the local landmarks on this list remain steadfast symbols of the LGBTQ community's resilience and ability to bounce back from hardship. So whether you're here in June or not, honor SF's storied gay history at these museums, bars and cultural landmarks. 

There’s never been a better time to show your support for the amazing National Parks in California. We’re lucky to live in a nation that preserves 59 separate parks (nine of which are in California, the most in any state) totaling 51.9 million acres of protected land. Plus, some of the nation’s most well-known fauna, like the California Condor and Yellowstone Bison, call these enormous parks home. Whether you’re planning to spend a weekend getaway under a canopy of giant Sequoias or take a day trip to see Southern California wildflowers, we recommend making plans to see as many of these parks as possible ... before it’s too late. And while you’re out here, why not check out the best beaches in California, too? RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in California

San Francisco might just be the world’s most Instagrammable city—and not just because the photo-sharing app was invented here. So before you sip that perfect coffee, gobble that gorgeous doughnut or wrap up that stunning hike, you might want to snap a photo first—you know, for the ’gram. If you’re looking to beautify your feed, take some advice from these social media professionals. We asked five of our favorite local photographers to share the 25 most Instagrammable places in San Francisco. These picturesque spots are the shots absolutely every San Franciscan needs to capture in order to rake in the likes. Get snapping! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in San Francisco

Did you know San Francisco ranks in the top three cities in the country for murals, just behind Los Angeles and Chicago? Between Baker Beach and Pier 39, SF is home to literally thousands of street art installations spanning all manner of artistic disciplines (the Mission alone has almost 500 murals and the Color Factory created eight new ones last year.) So, lace-up your sneakers, grab a coffee and hit the streets to see these colorful sights IRL—Instagramming all along the way, of course. RECOMMENDED: The best San Francisco museums

Ask any two people where to find the best burgers in San Francisco and you’re likely to have a fight on your hands. San Franciscans aren’t merely passionate about the quest for the perfect patty, we’re downright fierce. We’ve scoured the best San Francisco restaurants and burger joints to compile this shortlist of our favorites. Forget In-N-Out and opt to dine inside at one (or more) of these perfect burger destinations.  RECOMMENDED: The best french fries in San Francisco

Monkeywrench Books—an all-volunteer, collectively-run bookstore—holds a special place in Austin, as it's the only local book hub of its kind. While by no means offering a Barnes and Noble-like array of choices, the staff at Monkeywrench is still perfectly capable of steering you in the right literary direction, depending on your textual tastes.  And, better yet, there’s free coffee to enjoy while you make headway on your seasonal reading list.

Filled to the brim with vintage books and neon posters— some rare, some not—South Congress Bookstore delights all those who find themselves inside their mural-clad outlet with a welcoming, savvy, well-shelved atmosphere. (Speaking of those wallings of canvassed concrete, the one’s around the bookstore are great backdrops for a killer IG upload.) Owner Sheri Tornatore has 25 years of experience in the book industry, so it's safe to say that the selection here is incredibly well-curated.

Positively queer and unapologetically left-of-center, BookWoman will soon be celebrating their 40th year in operation, during which time they've introduced life changing, eye-opening reads to the Austin community. Offering a wide array of liberal books, especially those centered around past- and modern-day feminism, BookWoman’s “herstory” is, well, one for the books. Be sure to keep up to date with the various book groups that meet here each week to discuss the latest reads.

It’s one thing to like a book, but it’s a whole other thing to give that book directly to someone. At Recycled Reads—a non-profit bookstore run by members of the Austin Public Library— you can swing by and snag a well-loved book that its past owner would have warmly recommended. Feel free to take your own already-read selections to be recycled for other readers to enjoy.

Brent’s Christmas Trees has served the city of Oakland for over five decades. Their evergreen varieties include noble, douglas and grand firs, silver tips, nordam evergreens, scotch and ponderosa pines, cedars and sequoias. After you’ve picked out your tree, the warm, friendly staff will be more than happy to help sling and strap it to your car.

Want a Christmas tree but don't want to deal with the constant watering and needle shedding? Well, that’s where Rent A Living Christmas Tree comes in. The white glove service will deliver a potted Christmas tree to your door and then pick up the tree after the holidays. This way, your tree lives a happy, healthy and well-watered life all year round. Deliveries can be scheduled in the South Bay and the Peninsula, but East Bay residents and San Franciscans will have to make the drive out to pick their tree up.

Anyone who wants to to grab an axe and chop down their own Christmas tree will need to head out of the city and into Petaluma's 97-year-old family farm. Chop down any tree on the farm for $44 and Larsen's friendly staff shake, net and tie it to the roof of your car.

Well-known for putting on one of the Bay Area’s best pumpkin patches every autumn, ABC Tree Farms also grows and cuts sublime pines, offering over ten tree varieties. Be sure to ask your tree-helper for some tips and tricks on how to keep your holiday tree hydrated in the weeks to come.

East Bay families love Wonderland, which brings a bounce houses, a petting zoo and food trucks to the heart of Emeryville. Plus, they offer online ordering and delivery! 

This centrally-located evergreen hub still has an old-school country vibe that's equal parts charming and cheery. Pony rides for the kids and a parking lot for adults make this spot a family favorite too. Clancy's will custom-flock your chosen tree as well. 

Peninsula locals and passing visitors can visit one of the Bay Area's best tree farms right off San Mateo Road in Half Moon Bay. Yerba Buena Nursery is lined with already pre-cut Christmas trees ready to be fastened atop your car. Be sure to peruse through the greenhouse isles as well—Yerba Buena Nursery is famous for their holiday poinsettia arrangements and wreaths too.

Douglas, Noble, Grand firs, oh my! Santa’s Tree Farm, right off Highway 92 in Half Moon Bay, is a winter wonderland populated with a bounty of both pre-cut and self-cut evergreen trees. Average prices range between $59.63 and $73.39 if you're paying in cash; credit card purchases vary between $61.63 and $75.39.

There are two types of people in the world: those who choose the stairs and those who opt to stand listless on the slow-moving escalator. Suffice it to say, San Francisco—with its bevy of breathtaking, beautiful, bold stairways—largely caters to those who are willing to go the extra step. Keen to explore the city’s more calf-straining attractions? Here are 10 of San Francisco’s most Instagram-worthy staircases.  View this post on Instagram Filbert Street stairs, San Francisco 😍 A post shared by MeloMozart (@melomozart) on May 27, 2018 at 11:22am PDT Filbert Street Stairs A twisty, windy way to summit Telegraph Hill, the Filbert Street stairs offer charming views of the San Francisco waterfront. Be sure to keep your eyes (and ears) open; The staircase is famous for its colony of red conures that call the surrounding gardens home.   #санфранциско 330, 331... 332 “steps to heaven”- done!✋🏻 This lengthy ascent of the Lyon Street Steps features a “Heart of San Francisco” and gorgeous views of the Palace of Fine Arts, SF Bay and Marina✨ Just being at the summit of these steps is a mystical Zen experience truly difficult to describe. The feeling of the sky and air where you are standing is amazing💚 . . Всем добрый вечер (или утро🙂) Довольно часто в последнее время замечаю, что фотография не передаёт всей глубины реальной картинки. Либо у меня руки сменили место произрастания, либо это намёк, что не надо лениться таскать с собой фотоаппарат ... или може

For the first time in their 40-year history, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) will have a physical space to call home, one that will also double as a first-of-its-kind hub for queer art. SFGMC recently announced that a new National LGBTQ Center for the Arts will open in San Francisco in the near future. Aside from acting as a rehearsal and practice site for SFGMC, the center will also be a destination for publicly-accessible arts, including community performances, events, and programs. Purchased for $9.6 million, the new center—located on 170 Valencia St—will house a cutting-edge media center that will allow the chorus group to start on new programs and offer a meeting space and venue for fellow LGBTQ-identifying creatives. “In its forty-year history, the Chorus has performed at the world’s most prestigious venues, but we have never had our own home,” said Board Chair Keith Pepper.  “We are so grateful to Terrence Chan [a founding Chorus member who made a gift of $5 million] and his life partner Edward Sell” added Executive Director Chris Verdugo. “We look forward to working with and alongside other LGBTQ arts organizations while supporting them in their artistic and advocacy endeavors.” Once the ribbon is cut, the SFGMC will start to host ongoing master classes and interview series—featuring such household names like Academy Award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s Laura Benanti—community sing-ins, student residency programs

If you missed your chance to see the Unreal Garden, or loved it so much you were sad to see it go, immersive media company Onedome is back with a new exhibit called LMNL. Featuring fourteen interactive rooms and installations, LMNL is a collaboration between ten artists who attempted to capture the merging of technology, art, and human connection in each of their exhibits.  “With The Unreal Garden, we were literally changing the art gallery experience for the 21st century and with LMNL, we are looking to change the way people explore museum installations by making them a part of the experience,” said Onedome’s chief marketing officer Leila Amirsadeghi.  Photograph: Courtesy LMNL As soon as guests descend the staircase into the underground LMNL, it's clear this is no ordinary museum experience. Attendees can wander between installations such as Gabriel Pulecio’s “Kinetic Infinity Room,” a visually jaw-dropping LED mirrored room that appears infinitely large with a revolving catalog of lights and sounds and “Fluid Structures," which features digital walls made of "water." You'll even see a water-version of yourself inside of the installation and be able to have a digital water fight.  In an ode to the Unreal Garden, Design I/O’s “Funky Forest” is a digital forest ecosystem that features a digital waterfall. The waterfall's path can be moved around the room with logs and other forest materials. Depending on where the water flows, the forest will conjure creatures from the for

This Sunday is going to be lit. To honor the last night of Hanukkah, the JCCSF is throwing a Glowing Hanukkah Party in Ghirardelli Square, closing out the eight-night Jewish holiday. The free, family-friendly event will include children’s activities, live music, and, of course, the lighting of the last candle on the menorah. Also on the agenda: Make-your-own crystal sun-catchers and rainbow light spinners; Fresh donuts and coffee from Harvey’s Donuts; Special Hanukkah shops from the merchants in Ghirardelli Square; communal songs; and an LED piano concert with Luminescent Grand. In true Festival of Lights fashion, attendees are encouraged to dress up in their best light-up, glittery and glowing outfits. Head on over to Ghirardelli Square on December 9, 3–6pm, to enjoy this festive Hanukkah party.

With midterm elections right around the corner (November 6th—go vote!), 20 San Francisco and East Bay restaurants are putting their best dishes forward to support voter turnout.  Gastronomic fundraiser Dine Out for Democracy takes place this Thursday, October 25th, on both sides of the Bay Bridge. Each participating restaurant will donate a portion of the night's proceeds to two voting advocacy groups: The National Voter Protection Action Fund and Alliance for Youth Action, both of which work to protect the right to vote in the United States.  Head to one of these participating restaurants to support democracy this week: San Francisco 4505 Burgers & BBQ The Page Bar The Progress Garibaldis Restaurant State Bird Provisions Josey Baker Bread Little Star Pizza (Divisadero location)  Brenda’s French Soul Food Brenda’s Meat & Three  Oakland Beauty's Bagel Shop Camino Dona Tomas Ramen Shop Make Westing Starline Social Club Home of Chicken & Waffles Berkeley Gather Tacubaya Saul’s Deli Port Costa Bull Valley Roadhouse

Ready to frolic through a rainbow-colored garden? Oakland's Autumn Lights Festival returns for its seventh year with a weekend full of larger-than-life installations from more than 40 different local artists, thousands of colored lights, live music, food and drink vendors and even fire dancers!  View this post on Instagram Our generous partner Niantic, makers of the Ingress and Pokémon GO, will be represented as the Niantic Portal "Redacted." It will be on display at the Oakland Autumn Lights Festival all three nights of the festival, October 18-20. Niantic is inviting players to come out and explore the festival and play alongside the light installations. Tickets and info: www.autumnlightsoakland.com #AutumnLightsFestival #AutumnLightsOakland #urbangardens #oakland #Ingress #FamilyFun #GardenArt #DateNight #PokemonGO #Ingress photo: atenpo_photography A post shared by Gardens At Lake Merritt (@gardens_lake_merritt) on Oct 16, 2018 at 3:11pm PDT Now an East Bay tradition, the festival began in 2011 to showcase talented Bay Area artists while serving as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt, which helps to keep the gardens around the lake looking beautiful. This year, Autumn Lights is even partnering with Pokemon GO creators Niantic (the gardens were an early testing ground for the viral app) to bring virtual experiences and in-garden games to the festival.   View this post on Instagram Majorelle Arts is an Oakland ba

While San Francisco may be lacking in fall's quintessentially cold weather, you don't have to freeze your ass off in New England to see the leaves change colors (thank gawd). So, while you're loading your Instagram with photos of pumpkin patches and pumpkin spice lattes, be sure to add some Bay Area fall foliage to the mix. Here’s where you can see postcard-worthy autumn backdrops right here in the Bay Area. Use the interactive map on californiafallcolor.com to time your visit so that you get peak color. View this post on Instagram Ipomoea lobata (firecracker vine) at @_filoli caught my eye this week. SO. PRETTY. 🧡💥🔥💥🧡 _____________________________________________________________ I wish I had a space to put some at my place! 😍 its a relative of Morning Glory, so it’s a profuse and potentially invasive creeper. Would it be bad of me to say I wouldn’t mind it taking over? 🤔☺️ . . . . . . #filoligardens #firecrackervine #ipomoealobata #invasiveplants #morningglorys #bindweed #flowers #pretty #sunnyfallday #garden #walksinthegarden #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsmakemehappy #crazyplantlady #viriditerrae A post shared by Viridi-Terrae (@viriditerrae) on Oct 14, 2018 at 10:56am PDT Filoli Winery and Gardens Built around 1910, Filoli Winery and Gardens's 654-acres includes six classical gardens, two terraces and a jaw-dropping orchard. Come late-November, visitors can see fall foliage via molting maples, Virginia creepers, and other hardwood species spread

We know one thing: Mornings would be a little better if they involved free breakfast. Well, at least for one week, they can! San Francisco's favorite burger chain Super Duper Burgers is giving out free breakfast combos every day from October 1–6.  Head to Super Duper's Marina location (2201 Chestnut Street) for free breakfast from 7–8am, Monday–Friday. Each combo includes an organic egg sandwich with bacon or sausage and cheddar cheese, a side of hash browns, a house-made mini donut (dusted with cinnamon sugar, sugar-glazed, or chocolate-coated) and a Mr. Espresso coffee. There’s no need to RSVP online, download a coupon, or jump through any other preliminary hurdles. Just walk through their doors, order a combo and head to work. For one, we're actually looking forward to Monday morning. 

San Franciscans love to camp (and hike and generally be outdoors), which is why we were so excited to learn that one of the city's natural gems will open as a campground this fall. Candlestick Point Recreational Area is a 200-acre park with over four miles of waterfront hiking and bike paths, bird watching opportunities, casting points for fishing, publicly accessible grills and (perhaps most importantly) jaw-dropping views of the San Francisco Bay. Starting October 1st, you can add overnight camping to that long list of fun outdoor activities. Candlestick will open six new camping areas, all located on what's known as Sunset Point, a protected cove within the park that receives less wind than other parts of the notoriously brisk peninsula. Each camping area is a quarter-mile from an adjacent parking lot, so campers will need to be prepared to haul their stuff in. Avid kayakers can also access the new camping sites via boat; there's a landing station at nearby Jack Rabbit Beach.  Each site can be reserved for one or two nights ($35 per night) with a maximum of four people per camp. Bathrooms (with flushable toilets), drinking water and washing stations are all located within the park. But campfires and dogs are not allowed.  Book your stay on Reserve California when dates become available—and don’t forget a warm blanket.

A music festival that only runs on crypto-currency? It's real and it's only in the Bay Area.  The Bay Area's newest fest, OUR Music Festival (OMF), is also the world's first-ever crypto-fueled festival. The concept is fairly simple: Concertgoers can earn (and learn about) crypto-currency by participating in the festival's ecosystem, exchanging the new OMF Tokens for merchandise, food and drinks. The festival will also feature a crypto-corner, giving participants the chance to chat with and learn from some of the top blockchain companies in the world.  On the music side, OMF has assembled a truly great lineup of talent including acts by Grammy winner Zedd, hip-hop royalty Big Sean, electronic dance and music producer 3LAU, indie-pop muses Matt and Kim and others.  Following the inaugural event, the OMF Token will be available publicly and fans can start to redeem OMF Tokens for tangible goods beyond the OMF grounds like tickets to other fests, VIP upgrades and exclusive access. In the long term, OMF hopes to develop technology that will also mitigate ticket inflation, counterfeiting and scalping.  The fest goes down October 20th at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Tickets can be purchased using Bitcoin, BitcoinCash, and Litecoin at omf.io. 

Fall may have officially arrived, but the forecast calls for sunny skies and outdoor activities this week.    Monday: See a mashup of two great musicals On Monday night, the casts of the Phantom of the Opera and On Your Feet are joining forces to create a one-night-only musical and comedy cabaret. Tickets are still available, and part of the event’s proceeds will go toward Broadway Cares, the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation and Equity Fights AIDS. Tuesday: Learn to swing dance  As part of their fall open house, Breakaway is hosting an evening of free live music and swing dancing. Performances by Evelyn and Her Vintage Ties will take place in the ballroom, and dancers will find a photo booth, snacks, raffles, and more just outside the main hall. For newcomers, there will be a 30-minute master class from 8:30-9pm, designed to give you the basic steps needed to hit the dance floor swinging.  Wednesday: Find zen with a feline friend Head to Kit Tea on Wednesday night for a paw-some evening of cat yoga. Humans will be led through a restorative Hatha routine while rescue cats roam the space at their leisure. Mats and towels are provided, so you can focus on your feline flexibility; class begins promptly at 7:30pm.   Thursday: Chat about the state of the Internet The host of the The New York Times' "Internetting with Amanda Hess,” will be chatting about all things memes, viral dog videos, and DMs with author Thomas Page McBee and Teen Vogue editor Samhita Mukhopadhyay. Get your ticket

This week’s best Bay Area events celebrate feminism, booze walks, and more. Monday: Show off your best tiara Gather a team of feminist smarties for the return of Virgil’s Sea Room feminist pub quiz. Contestants have the chance to win free drinks and prizes throughout the competition and teams wearing crowns or tiaras will get a bonus point, with a special prize for the winner of Best Tiara.  Tuesday: See the West Coast's top female photographers Swing by the Scott Nichols Gallery this Tuesday for the grand opening of their newest exhibit, Women of the West. The exhibit was curated by women photographers and features contemporary and historical pictures taken by women photographers who either hail from the American West or documented our rugged coast.  Wednesday: Get a signed copy of Rich Table Sarah and Evan Rich's new cookbook, Rich Table, brings recipes from their lauded restaurant straight to your kitchen. In celebration of the book’s launch, the duo will be hosting a one-night event at William Sonoma in Union Square featuring a live cooking demo and small bites.  Thursday: Put old avocado pits to use Learn how to dye your own sheets, tablecloths and other cotton textiles using leftover avocado pits at this fun DIY class. Design guru Roxanne Young will lead the class.  Friday: See why sharks are friends, not food The David Brower Center kicks off another leg of its multi-year partnership with National Geographic with the exhibition, Art/Act: Brian Skerry–SHARKS, curated by