7 awesome Bay Area things to do this weekend

It’s nearly August, which means the summer we’ve never really had is almost half over. Fortunately, we have lots of ways to have fun this weekend, from great summer tunes to a New Orleans vacation (online, of course) to virtual happy hours.

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1 LISTEN & VOTE: What’s the Song of the Summer 2020?

Yes, we realize there is no such thing as an official Song of the Summer. But why let that stop us from engaging in a fun, passionate and utterly pointless debate over musical preferences? Other candidates — featuring Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Megan Thee Stallion, Harry Styles, and more — and then vote for your favorite.

Once happy hours went virtual on Zoom and similar video conferencing apps, virtual cocktail class parties soon followed. (Getty Images) 

2 SIP: Zoom cocktails

GINspiration with a British pro, Sangria lessons with Portuguese drag queens and a virtual tiki session aboard a time-traveling ship? Virtual happy hours that include mixology how-tos are officially a thing.

3 WATCH: A new horror film from a Palo Alto native

Dave Franco might be best known for acting in movies, such as “Super Bad” and “The Disaster Artist” (with his brother James), but now he has directed one. It’s called “The Rental” and it’s super creepy and stars his wife Alison Brie. Go here to learn how you can see it and what he told us about making the film.

Popular New Orleans events like the Satchmo SummerFest will go online this year. The July 27-Aug. 2 tribute to Louis Armstrong will feature live-streamed performances and lectures. (Zack Smith Photography) 

4 EAT & PLAY: NOLA jazz, jambalaya and beignets

An actual New Orleans jaunt doesn’t seem like a great idea right now, but we’ve whipped up a virtual NOLA weekend, complete with streamed jazz fest, virtual swamp tours and delicious bites. 

5 PLAY: The Pokémon Go Fest

Yes, the beloved Pokémon Go Fest this weekend is among the many events forced by the coronavirus pandemic to go online this year (which almost seems appropriate, in its own weird way).

6 PLAY: Sip and paint party

You know those popular wine-bar painting and sipping sessions of pre-pandemic times? Campbell’s VinoPaint is doing it virtually, shipping out art kits for their online rendezvous — and the sips are up to you. There’s one this weekend and more in August. (It’s one of nine cool ways to play as you shelter-mostly-in-place.)

7 WATCH: The summer outdoor theater season has gone virtual

Yes, the grand old Bay Area summer thrill of watching terrific plays outside and wondering if hypothermia will set in before intermission is largely lost to the pandemic. But there are some great stage shows to stream at home this weekend (and Irish coffee tastes pretty good indoors, too). Here is a roundup.

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