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Bay Area Nights Out: Games, Comedy and Day Trips
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items Where I go for live sports, stand-up and a night out, from cheap-seat baseball to front-row comedy and quick road trips. I have done stand-up myself, so I judge clubs from both sides of the mic. I may earn a commission from these links.
Map
Sections
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Sports
Comedy
Shows and Nights Out
Road Trips
Sports
Where I watch the Warriors when I want to be close to the action. I have been here for Kevin Hart from the front row, Alicia Keys and Madea, so it works for more than basketball. Park early, the lot fills fast on game nights.
Oakland Arena
My go-to for upper-deck baseball when I want the bay view and a cheap night. I have sat up top for $4 to $12 a seat and still had a great look at the field. Take BART and Muni instead of fighting for parking.
Oracle Park
A's day games for about $8 a seat, which is the cheapest real sports night in the East Bay. Bring a jacket for the shade and expect plenty of room to stretch out. Easy BART ride from San Leandro.
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Cal women's basketball from courtside for $36 a seat. You are close enough to hear the huddles, and the crowd is loud without the NBA price tag. A small arena with no bad angles.
Haas Pavilion
Comedy
The room where I have seen Dave Chappelle sold out and Gary Owen. Intimate, no obstructed seats, and the two-drink minimum is real, so plan for it. As a comic myself, I rate it as one of the best rooms in the city.
Cobb's Comedy Club
General admission seating and a Nick Thune set when I wanted a weeknight laugh in the city. Doors open early enough to get a good table, and the lineups run deep.
Punch Line Comedy Club - San Francisco
The East Bay club I use for VIP seating when I want a close table without driving into the city. Bring your card and ID, and know that tickets are non-refundable before you book.
Tommy T's Comedy Club
Where I took open mic slots in the South Bay. A small room with a real stage, a friendly host and a crowd of working comics, so you get honest laughs and honest silence.
Rooster T Feathers Comedy Club
Shows and Nights Out
I saw Raphael Saadiq here for about $43 a seat. The restored 1928 hall has great sound and a balcony that feels close to the stage, and it is a short walk from 19th Street BART.
Fox Theater
NightLife on Thursdays is the move for a grown-up night out. I paid $5 for the planetarium and $27 for a themed show, with drinks in hand. Go early, the lines build by 7.
California Academy of Sciences
I bought season passes because two visits cover the price. Go on an off-season weekday and the big coasters have almost no wait. Parking is extra, so carpool.
California's Great America
The cheap movie night at about $8 a ticket. Big screens, reclining seats and no crowd on weeknights, so it is my default for two hours out of the house.
AMC Deer Valley 16
I saw a 3D movie here for $26.50 for two, a fair price on the Central Valley side of a road trip. Stadium seating means a clear view from any row.
Regal Modesto
Road Trips
My one-night wine country reset for about $117 with free parking. Close enough to drive up after work, and the pool and spa make it feel like more than a budget stay.
Flamingo Resort and Spa Santa Rosa Sonoma, Tapestry by Hilton
A king studio suite with free breakfast makes Reno an easy weekend trip. The kitchenette saves a meal or two, and there is room to spread out after the drive over the Sierra.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Reno