Never the same. Always San Francisco. | ITINErArY BUILdEr . 7 2019’S TOP MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS ART AND CHINA AFTER 1989: THEATER OF THE WORLD This survey of Chinese contemporary art presents works that anticipated, chronicled and agitated for the sweeping social transformation that placed China at the center of the conversation on globalization. SAN FrANCISCO MUSEUM OF MOdErN ArT (SFMOMA) THrOUGH FEB. 24, 2019 VIJA CELMINS: TO FIX THE IMAGE IN MEMORY For more than five decades, Vija Celmins has been creating subtle, exquisitely detailed renderings of natural imagery — including oceans, desert floors, galaxies and night skies — and surveying how we perceive these vast visual expanses. See nearly 150 works in this global retrospective. SAN FrANCISCO MUSEUM OF MOdErN ArT (SFMOMA) THrOUGH MArCH 31, 2019 GAUGUIN: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY An exceptional display of more than 50 paintings, wood carvings and ceramics by the French post-impressionist artist Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) from the collections of the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, will be on view for the first time in San Francisco at the de Young Museum. dE YOUNG MUSEUM THrOUGH APrIL 7, 2019 MICKEY MOUSE: FROM WALT TO THE WORLD Come to the Walt Disney Family Museum to celebrate Walt’s most famous character, Mickey Mouse, and his worldwide impact on culture, art and entertainment through a special exhibition of original artworks, artifacts and more. WALT dISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM MAY 2019–JANUArY 2020 IDENTITY As the Exploratorium celebrates 50 years of innovation and curiosity, a provocative exhibition on identity opens, confronting the timeless question of “Who am I?” with timely urgency and unflinching bravery. EXPLOrATOrIUM SUMMEr 2019 Atrium at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) dumplings at China Live DAY THREE MORNING FOODIES FEAST FOR A DAY No trip to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Visitors will enjoy modern and contemporary artworks, six art-filled terraces, a sculptural staircase and Roman steps. There is free public access to the ground floor galleries, and visitors age 18 and under can explore the whole museum for free. AFTERNOON GET A TASTE OF WHY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RATED SAN FRANCISCO THE “#1 BEST FOODIE CITY IN THE USA” MORNING Throughout the day, guests can refuel with an artisanal coffee at SFMOMA’s café or enjoy Michelin-starred cuisine at In Situ, where the menu is composed of signature dishes by famous chefs from around the world. If time permits, there’s the California Historical Society, Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Museum of the African Diaspora all in close proximity. EVENING Jump-start a culinary adventure at the Ferry Building Marketplace. The restored historic structure is home to artisan producers, specialty shops, local food and restaurants. For breakfast, visitors can enjoy freshly baked pastries at Mariposa Baking Company, artisanal coffee at Blue Bottle or the renowned brunch at Boulette’s Larder. Or, they can grab some treats for later, including distinct, delicious wines from the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant. AFTERNOON Programming at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), located opposite SFMOMA, often includes evening performances. An innovative contemporary art center, YBCA offers an eclectic calendar of exhibitions, performances and films. Or, visitors can stroll past new outdoor art installations at The Moscone Center and the new Salesforce Tower and Salesforce Transit Center. Pieces include: Point Cloud , a colorful 50,000 LED light display on Moscone’s East Bridge designed by Leo Villareal, who also created The Bay Lights ; Jim Campbell’s Day for Night , which features 11,000 twinkling lights displaying moving images atop the Salesforce Tower; and Jenny Holzer’s White Light , a large-scale LED piece at the Salesforce Transit Center. © Iwan Baan, courtesy SFMOMA; courtesy of China Live Foodies can dig deeper into San Francisco’s local specialties with the city’s array of food tours. Check out one of the tantalizing trips offered by Avital Food Tours, Local Tastes of the City Tours or SF Adventure Tours Beers & Bites to eat around various neighborhoods. Edible Excursions visits several tempting locations in Japantown, including Benkyodo Confections, one of the neighborhood’s first businesses. To get a taste of Chinatown’s delicacies, try All About Chinatown Walking Tours or Wok Wiz Chinatown Walking Tours. Or, plan a stop at China Live, a new all-in-one marketplace and food emporium dedicated to Chinese cuisine that has received apt comparisons to New York’s Eataly. EVENING For some nighttime revelry, San Francisco offers an abundance of locally produced beer, wine and liquor. Head to 21st Amendment Brewery, Woods Bar & Brewery or the new Anchor Public Taps for an ample variety of craft brews. To sample the hard stuff, Hotaling & Co. on Potrero Hill and Hangar One Vodka headquarters in Alameda are the places to be. sftravel.com
San Francisco Travel Planner's Guide 2019 TPG: Page 7
