Dahlia lovers rejoice as the annual competition is coming up. Movie lovers – You can catch Swedish Cinema in Berkeley, and a multitude of outdoor screenings across the bay. Creativity abounds in the bay area, you can go to Art in the Park at Fort Point or see the honey bears (remember them?) at one of the Painted Ladies in SF. The Maybaum gallery in the Presidio has a gorgeous exhibit reminiscent of the impressionists and Art & Awareness in Alameda showcases Rising Seas. The SF Fringe Festival has a wonderful new play this weekend and SF Playhouse presents a world premier called “Home”.  As always no need to leave the bay – you can staycation and be busy every hour. Enjoy the lingering days of summer fellow tomatoes.

Aug. 16-17. The 2025 Dahilia Competition

Each summer, on the third weekend in August, the Dahlia Society of California draws thousands of visitors to its annual show in the enormous Hall of Flowers. Growers from all over the state bring their best blooms. Blooms in all categories are judged and awarded ribbons, including the elusive “Best in Show.” Other categories: Best Photo; People’s Choice Award; Best Arrangement; Best Junior Bloom; and “Nature’s Oddities.” You must be a member to compete, but the public is welcome to see this eye-popping event. the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Free admission 10 – 4. Get the details.

August 17. Forest Bathing

Ever wondered what is involved in Forest Bathing?  You can experience this serene practice in Golden Gate Park . Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the natural world on a forest bathing walk.  Inspired by the Japanese tradition of shinrin-yoku, this mindful, slow-paced journey invites participants to engage all senses connecting deeply with the sights, sounds, and textures of the forest, guided by prompts to pause and notice the intricate details of leaves, the soothing rhythm of bird songs, and the earthy scent of the soil lowering stress levels, reducing blood pressure, and enhancing overall well-being.

Beneficial beyond relaxation, this practice honors and deepens our relationship with the Earth, inviting us to recognize our part in the intricate web of life by slowing down, attuning to nature, and inspiring a sense of stewardship and gratitude. This walk is not about exercise or reaching a destination — it’s about being fully present and experiencing the healing, rejuvenating power of nature. 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. FOREST BATHING

August 12. Swedish Cinema

Set the mood with Swedish cinema at BAMPFA. View  “Through a Glass Darkly” Ingmar Bergman’s still-provocative portrait of a young woman sinking into insanity while both family and God fail to save her. Winner of the 1962 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. On August 20^th, Bergman’s “Persona” fills the screen, Exploring the strange symbiosis between a speechless actress (Liv Ullmann) and her nurse companion (Bibi Andersson). BAMPFA in Berkeley. SWEDISH CINEMA

Outdoor Movies

There is nothing quite as lovely as heading outside to watch a movie on a big screen (if you are bundled up). Starting August 16^th free outdoor movies are back in Union Square with a new name. Cinema on the Square brings three nights of outdoor films to the plaza. Kicking things off is Mrs. Doubtfire (filmed right here in San Francisco) on Saturday, August 16. The series continues with Big Hero 6 on September 20 and wraps up with Hitchcock’s The Birds on October 4. All screenings are free and start after sundown, with pre-show fun like trivia, prizes, and contests curated by the movie pros at Alamo Drafthouse. OUTDOOR FILMS SF Redwood City also shows free films on Courthouse Square. Most are for kids, but aren’t we all just kids at heart?  REDWOOD CITY FILMS

Art at Fort Point

Explore the exhibition everyone’s talking about at Fort Point National Historic Site. Presented by the For-Site Foundation, Black and Gold features 15 artists whose work honors the contributions and resilience of Black individuals during California’s early statehood. Free and open to the public. Fridays through Sundays through November 2, 10am to 5pm.  ART AT FORT POINT

Summer Selection

Catch the opening reception for Summer Selection at Maybaum Gallery with artists Kim Cogan and Rachel Mari Simkover. Cogan captures moody vignettes that blur memory, landscape, and time, while Simkover explores beauty and constraint through intricate textile and hand-weaving work. On view through September 3; Thursday, August 7, 5pm to 7pm.   maybaumgallery.com

Painted Ladies is Opening Its Doors

For the first time ever, one of San Francisco’s iconic “Painted Ladies” on Alamo Square is opening its doors to the public – and it’s housing a rare pop-up art museum from local street artist fnnch. Remember the Honey Bears? That’s him. Inside you’ll find street artist fnnch’s Honey Bear paintings over the last 10 years. There are 116 in all, many borrowed from collectors across the country. The exhibition also features photos and descriptions of the origins of the various bear designs.

The venue is the Pink Painted Lady, one of the seven iconic homes featured in the intro to Full House. Registration is on a per-day basis. The “12pm” just means that is the earliest entry time.  HONEY BEARS AT PINK LADY

Aug. 8-24. SF Fringe Festival

Indie theatre lovers – you already know about The SF Fringe Festival, but those who are looking for something different, check it out. The San Francisco Fringe Festival is returning in 2025, featuring 15 indie theater productions, each 60 minutes or less, at the Taylor Street Theatre. Performances will be held on Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday over three consecutive weekends.

Screenings are August 8 – 24^th and include “Mother’s Past Daughter’s Future this Friday at 7 p.m. This is two solo performances ,“Orphan Girl”- Meighan O’Brien.  With song and story, she celebrates one woman’s journey from the loss and emotional abandonment echoing down the bloodline of her family, to the love and belonging found by listening to and speaking one’s truth. “The One”- Andrea Parson In The One, multidisciplinary artist Andrea Parson unearths the tangles truths of self-love, spiritual longing, and romantic pursuit through movement, storytelling, and clown. SF FRINGE

SF PLAYHOUSE and Z Space Present HOME?

A Palestinian Woman’s Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness. In Israel, she’s Palestinian. In the Arab world, she’s Israeli. In America, she’s an “Other.” ‘Home?’ is an autobiographical one-person show about a young woman’s journey to find a sense of belonging. On the way she asks: Why would you need to complete military service just to wait tables? Can you pass as an Israeli if you delete your Arab accent? And can you simply move to America and leave the whole Middle East behind? Through a panoply of vivid characters – from her five-year-old self, to an Egyptian casting director , to her own dying mother  – playwright/actor Hend Ayoub shares a deeply personal, true story about a search for the place that many of us take for granted. HOME?