The weather has turned, the fall décor abounds and it’s time to enjoy Bay Area fall happenings. Domenico winery in San Carlos brings out the ghouls for grown up fun. The Exploratorium is not just for kids. Get a look at lifestyles of the rich and famous at the San Francisco Fall design show. Oakland brings a fab five-day festival to us and we have places for you to see fall foliage. Yes, we do have some of that!

Oct. 29. Fright Night

Gather your ghosts and ghouls for in the Cellar at Domenico Winery’s Halloween extravaganza.  Tomatoes, you are summoned to a soirée fit with a full bar, and we’re not just talking potions or their signature witches’ brew. There will also be a candy bar to energize those bones on the dance floor. More thrilling than a haunted house! Dress to impress with for the costume contest with prizes of course. The monster mash will come naturally with a DJ spinning spooky tunes, awakening spirits with a live saxophonist and drummer. https://www.domenicowinery.com/

Exploratorium

No kids allowed—but you can still act like one at the Exploratorium. On Thursday nights you can unplug and play with more than 650 interactive exhibits exploring science, art, and perception. Get inquisitive, grab a drink, and let the DJ set the vibe. With 75,000 square feet of conversation starters, you’ll never run out of things to talk about. 6-10pm Thursday nights. Spectacular especially during spooky season. exploratorium.edu

The San Francisco Fall Show

Get a look at the lifestyles of the rich and the famous at the San Francisco Fall Show. The West Coast’s oldest and most prestigious international art, design, and antiques show. At this annual fundraiser for the Fine Arts Museums of SF, you can shop (or window shop) from top dealers. Founded in 1982, the Show features over 40 of the top dealers from around the world, offering for sale an extraordinary range of fine and decorative arts representing all styles and periods, including paintings, furniture, precious metals, ceramics, jewelry, rugs, photography, works on paper, books, ethnographic art, and objets d’art. sffallshow.org

Infinite Love

Ready your cameras for Japanese art icon Yayoi Kusama’s highly anticipated solo presentation Infinite Love, The artist brings her colorful, kaleidoscopic world view to SFMOMA with two Infinity Mirror Rooms, including Love is Calling, which is among her largest, most immersive works to date; Saturday through September 7, 2024. sfmoma.org

Oct. 18-22. A Fashion Forward, Tasteful Afternoon

Celebrate Oakland style at the launch of a new, annual five-day event highlighting local fashion, art, music, cuisine, and culture. Enjoy culinary experiences, cultural conversations, art walks, fashion shows, maker and designer marketplaces, musical performances, vintage shopping, and more. Our favorite event we will be attending is A Fashion Forward, Tasteful Afternoon that Celebrates Oakland Style.

We will enjoy contemporary tea service paired with innovative cocktails and informal modeling, previewing the latest fashions from two of Oakland’s finest stylemakers; Sherri McMullen of McMullen Boutique and award-winning jewelry designer Dorian Webb. We can’t wait to Shop at the stylish pop-up boutique for exquisitely designed pieces. The gorgeous Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel sets the stage for this intimate event with its rich 19th-century history and breathtaking Oakland Hills views. High Tea & Fashion will take place on Friday, October 20, 2023. a full schedule, go to visitoakland.com.

 Leaf Peeping

While the color of the leaves in San Francisco will never be confused for Vermont in the fall, that doesn’t mean there isn’t gorgeous fall foliage to be found. San Francisco’s own Botanical Garden is a great place to do some leaf-peeping since their 55-acre garden features plants from around the world. The Garden is one of the most beautiful spots in the city when its Moon View Garden and Temperate Asia Garden begin to turn. Be sure to check out the bright gold Ginko trees and deep purplish-red Dogwoods. The fall peak typically lasts about 2 weeks, often in November.  https://www.sfbg.org/

Fall at Filoli

Filoli, one of our favorite places any time of year celebrates fall with gorgeous gardens that feature flora from China, Japan, England, Spain as well as other countries. Visit late November through early December, and  you’ll see gorgeous autumnal colors from Japanese maples, cherries, Virginia creepers, hawthorns, fruit trees, viburnums, ginkgos and other rare plants spread out throughout the gardens. https://filoli.org

Fall in Sonoma

National Geographic named Sonoma County the best place in the country to see changing fall foliage for its stunning autumn colors on both leaves and vines. They suggest a scenic drive through Sonoma Valley along Arnold Drive which is lined with colorful Oak and Maple trees. Then continue through the Russian River Valley, to see fiery orange, yellow and red vineyards.