Fun and FREE in San Francisco ⛩️

[KimberlyAnnG]

Coming to San Francisco??? Make sure you spend some time exploring all the fun FREE things to do in the city!

Last Saturday, I did just that. First was a Block Party for the new Chase Center! The new home of the Golden State Warriors basketball team, the very first events for the new center were last weekend. Metallica played with the San Francisco Symphony on Friday and Sunday nights. My friend Dan paid a lot of money to go inside…he generously shared these images to give us all a peek.

My favorite events are the FREE ones. The Block Party (Saturday) featured vendors from inside the Chase Center, a kids Tennis Court, and Serena Williams’ playing in the U.S. Open on the jumbo screen! Here are some 360 videos from the event…

I was able to park on the street ($4.25 for 5 hours!) and started the video at one of the 87 art installations on the property. This first one is called “Seeing Spheres” by danish artist Olafur Eliasson.

Sure to be an Instagram favorite! Walking around the perimeter of the building, it's clear there is still a lot of finishing work to be done before everything is open. There are many public spaces that will welcome visitors whether they are there for a ticketed event or just seeing the newest sight!

Arriving at the “front” entrance to find a line already long…fortunately @Twister411 got there first and is saving me a spot!

Waited in line for 2 hours for the opening. First 200 in line get the swag! Hat, t-shirts, seat cushions, cookies…check! Got it all but the experience is what I’m here for.

In addition to all the swag, food for purchase and tennis on the big screen, the Golden State Warriors had two of their newest draft picks out in the crowd for photo ops and an interview. Looking forward to seeing both these young men on the court this season!

That was fun but the day is still young, Tu and I decide to head over to Washington Square to get cookies from Victoria Pastry. Not free but the BEST Italian cookies and pastries in San Francisco.

Our next stop was the Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival . I shot some 360 video so you could get some idea of the experience! It’s super crowded but not a problem. We’re just checking out what the vendors are selling.

San Francisco’s Chinatown is is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese enclave outside Asia. It’s one of my favorite places in the city!!! It can be intimidating because of it’s authenticity. Many vendors here speak some dialect of Chinese, hopefully a little English. We always find a way to get the yummy treats we want. Good food is a universal language!

With a happy tummy, it’s time to call it a day. Spent a little money on a lot of food. Super fun day, on the cheap in San Francisco!!

All of the places we went can be found on my List:San Francisco ~ I Chinatown

[Twister411]

I ate most of the cookies I got so it won’t be sending what was left to my daughter .

Always lots to do in the city. My next few months is full of adventures in the Bay Area.

[KlaudiyaG]

What a fantastic day you’ve had, @KimberlyAnnG ! Thank you so much for taking us with you to these great events. It really looks like that the free happenings are still as fun as the paid ones, actually sometimes I think that they are probably better, but that of course is my own personal opinion.

By the way, I really liked the part where you said that “Good food is a universal language”. I completely agree with you on that one.

[KimberlyAnnG]

@KlaudiyaG I agree with you 100%! I always seem to enjoy the free events more than the paid entries… no pressure to “get my moneys worth”! The only problem in San Francisco is try to decide what free event to go to, LOL! So many to choose from every weekend…

[JustineE]

This is an awesome post @KimberlyAnnG . That Metallica concert must have been amazing. They are actually showing a recording of it in cinemas in Australia next month. I am going to bookmark your post as I will be in SF later this year and can’t wait to see, do and eat my way through your list!

[PaulPavlinovich]

Rock on my sisters @KimberlyAnnG and @Twister411 thanks for the freebie things - I hope you can both come on the SF (Sat 9th) and SJ 36 (Mon 11th) walks. Sending you virtual hugs - that’ll have to do until November

Paul

[KimberlyAnnG]

@JustineE congrats on your selection! You’re certain to have a grand time while you’re here. Please feel free to reach out if you need any additional suggestions for your visit. I have lived in San Jose (your ultimate destination for November!) for over 30 years. I have a lot of lists…LOL! I’ll also be joining in on @PaulPavlinovich 36 Walk. Perhaps we will meet.

[KimberlyAnnG]

Ooooo! Two 36 Walks this year @PaulPavlinovich ?! Well, how could I refuse?! I shall mark my calendar for both!

[PaulPavlinovich]

There’s actually three if you’d like to come to New York there is one on 29th of October following the High Line.

Come on over @KimberlyAnnG

It will be great to have you on the SF and SJ walks. The SF walk is an exact repeat of last year except that its starting earlier in the day so we actually get to go up Coit tower and finish the walk on the waterfront.

The SJ walk is much shorter and finds much of the CBD street art among other cool things to look at.

NYC 36 High Line https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/2d01a0e41905429da7befee97680bce8

SF 36 Repeat https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/ae626179d4e3411a8768142395771b06

SJ 36 Connect Live https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/9e058e8a6d4a4c4a81e3558033ea256b

Paul

[JustineE]

Hey @KimberlyAnnG . Thank you. Unfortunately I can’t take much time off work so won’t be on the 36 walk. It will be awesome though and I know you’ll have a great time.

[Twister411]

@PaulPavlinovich I love the Highline in NYC. I suggest grabbing pastries from Sarah Beth’s and enjoying the morning sun before the walk.

I’ll pencil in the San Jose and San Francisco walk on my calendar. Good thing Monday it’s actually a holiday so there will be less traffic going to San Jose from the city.

[PaulPavlinovich]

I’ll look up Beths @Twister411

It’ll be great to have you on either or both of the walks. The SF one is huge (very long), the SJ one is much shorter.

Paul