Welcome to another installment of The Weekender, where sun, fun and tasty adult beverages are never out of arm’s reach. So here are some fun ideas for this weekend, from boffo beer gardens to brilliant biking trails to amazing concerts, movies, poetry readings and plays — of the live and virtual variety.
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1 WATCH: Amazing true-crime movies
Anyone who doubts that truth is stranger than fiction probably hasn’t been paying attention to, like, ANYTHING over the last year. But the law applies to movies, too — so we’re spotlighting a few drawn from real-life events, like a gobsmacking art heist or a mother using MySpace to lure her daughter’s killer.
2 SIP: 5 Bay Area beer gardens
This is perfect beer garden weather — and we’ve got five great tips on where to hoist that pint, from a coastal brew garden in Pacifica to an outdoor mecca in Moraga.
3 PLAY: Biking bonanza
This weekend should serve up primo weather for biking those fab Bay Area trails, whether you’re taking a downtown spin through Benicia (with a stop for tasty croissants to refuel!) or cruising the mountain bike trails of Angel Island.
4 SEE & HEAR: A jazz star and a virtual poetry night
Bay Area music and arts fans have much to savor this weekend, from a live-streamed concert by the incredibly talented Raul Midón to a virtual poetry reading to a gem of an overlooked East Bay film festival. Here’s a roundup.
5 EAT: Veggie burgers galore
There’s nothing better than a big juicy, drippy burger — and when it’s plant-based, you can feel virtuous about that indulgence. Do the calorie counts bear out that smugness? Who cares? They’re delish! Here are five spots to try.
6 SEE: A short-but-sweet Pixar movie
“Burrow” is a sweetheart of a short movie about a determined bunny trying to build the perfect den. It’s up for an Oscar, of course. Go here to learn where you can see it and meet the young Lafayette animator who created it.
7 WATCH: The play’s the thing
Theater fans have a cool choice right now. Head out to a drive-in and watch a live show adapted from one of the world’s most famous poems. Or, if you prefer the home-viewing mode for now, catch Berkeley Rep’s streaming 10-part literary love-song to its hometown, starring a slew of famous writers like Lemony Snicket and Sarah Ruhl.