SF Life: Dining, Dance, Cherry Blossoms, Films, Pups
The Cherry Blossoms are blooming, so head to Japan Town to celebrate. It’s also time to chow down and try new restaurants. SF Restaurant Week is almost here, along with Flavors of the Peninsula. We love man’s best friends, and Duboce park is home to the popular DogFest this month. The San Francisco International Film Festival is almost here, where you can immerse yourself in new works by inspiring directors. Break out your kicks and get ready to participate or just watch incredible dancers as we celebrate Bay Area Dance Week.
April 23-May 3. Flavors of the Peninsula
This 10-day, prix-fixe restaurant celebration spans from the bayside to the coast, April 23-May 3. Not to be confused with your standard “restaurant week,” think of Flavors as more of an open house for the region’s diverse kitchens. It’s the first time the public really gets an all-access pass to the spots that locals usually keep quiet about. Some of the restaurants include Mezza Luna in Half Moon Bay, Hurrica in Redwood City, Oak + Violet in Menlo Park and Stella. sanfranciscopeninsula.com
April 10-19. SF Restaurant Week
Celebrate the flavors of San Francisco’s unique and diverse neighborhoods through special prix-fixe menus during Spring Restaurant Week . There are some very tasty options for you. Lunches are priced from $10 – $45 and dinners from $30 – $90. Sponsored by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, this event tickles the tastebuds of the community. Their mission is to celebrate and empower the restaurant industry. China Live, Fior d’Italia, Flour & Water and Wayfare Tavern are just a few of the participating restaurants. You can find them all on the website. SF RESTAURANT WEEK
Cherry Blossoms
Since 1968, the Cherry Blossom Festival has served to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and the United States using culture as its bridge. Each year, over 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the vibrant colors and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community in the festivities as San Francisco’s Japantown celebrates Japanese and Japanese-American culture. The celebration coincides with the blooming of the cherry blossoms. The Grand Parade takes place on the 19th from 1 – 3 p.m. and goes from Civic Center Plaza to Japantown. This year’s Grand Marshal, Atsuko Okatsuka, is a globally touring comedian known for her magnetic stage presence, hilarious storytelling, and instantly recognizable bowl cut. https://sfcherryblossom.org/
April 25. DogFest 2026
This is a mutt-tastic festival at one of the most dog-friendly parks in the city and the biggest dog event in San Francisco. DogFest is a celebration of dogs, families, community, and spring in San Francisco. It’s also a charitable event that raises funds for McKinley Elementary – a small public school in the neighborhood. DogFest attendees can expect nonstop fun and games. The park fills with carnival-style games staffed by McKinley students, while at the top end, jumping castles keep the little ones busy. Dogs are the star of the event, of course, with a daylong show and contest. Food trucks ensure that everyone is well fed, while the book fair, merchant stalls, and the doggie adoption zone provide wonderful ways to support the community. Sat. April 25th, Duboce Park. GET THE DETAILS.
SF International Film Fest
BAMPFA is an official partner of the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival presented by SFFILM. April 18 – 27th. The longest-running film festival in the Americas includes premieres, eagerly anticipated award titles, debut work from emerging storytellers, international narrative and documentary, spotlights on Bay Area filmmakers, and stellar in-person conversations. Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive ignites cultural change for a more inclusive and artistic world. BAMPFA has been uniquely dedicated to art and film since 1970, with international programming that is locally connected and globally relevant. Surprise and delight yourself by attending some of these important films that can’t be found in local theatres. FILM FESTIVAL
April 25-May 4. Let’s Dance!
Break out your dancing shoes (or sneakers) and get ready for an explosion of movement. Bay Area Dance with 10 days of free dance events. There will be classes, workshops, performances, open rehearsals and more, happening all over the bay area. Watch inspiring artists, practice your favorite style, or discover a new groove! Dance Week kicks off with a free family friendly community celebration April 25th, 12-1pm at Union Square. Rhythm & Motion will lead “One Dance,” a routine designed for all participants to perform together. Learn the moves in advance or just show up and follow along! National Dance Week was founded in 1981 to increase awareness of dance and its contributions to our national culture. The first Bay Area Dance Week (BADW) festival grew out of a public dialogue in 1998, when dance artists, administrators, and organizations came together to explore how best to spotlight Bay Area dance during National Dance Week. This is your chance to watch aerial artists, try your hand at hip hop, salsa or Bollywood. Hit those fitness goals while having a great time! DANCE WEEK
Kim Selby, the SF life editor of The Three Tomatoes, is your gal for info on what’s hot and happening in the beautiful bay area. Having lived on the Left Coast for 27 years, after almost a decade in NYC, she has explored and continues to have adventures all over the San Francisco area. Passionate about fashion, formerly with GLAMOUR magazine and Fashion Director at Saks Fifth Avenue , Palo Alto, Kim produced fashion shows in the bay area for over 20 years. She now creates events to empower, delight and inspire women, aka “Tomatoes”. Learn more about Kim at www.kimduffselby.com
Listen to her podcast, "Ignite Your Spark" wherever you listen to podcasts.
