Things to do on Christmas day in San Francisco

December 24, 2013 6:21 PM

So my original Christmas day plans fell through, and I live 5000 miles from most of my family. I do have a brother who recently moved to San Jose, though, and we'd like to spend the day doing something together. We're both wary of bringing each other to friends houses (we're different kinds of people, move in different circles, etc) - so we'd like to try and find something fun and novel that we can go and do, just the 2 of us (though if it were something social in the sense that we may meet a bunch of strangers doing this thing, then that would be cool). Anybody have any ideas? We're also British. I don't know if this information will help you, but hey, there you have it. 2 British guys in San Francisco with no idea what to do on Xmas day. Hive mind, halp!
posted by TheTorns to Society & Culture (16 answers total)

I'd love to hear some of the non-Christmas stuff you both enjoy doing to help guide answering.
posted by latkes at 6:30 PM on December 24, 2013

I don't live in SF, but I do live in California, and one great thing about our state is that you can go to the beach or hiking on Christmas Day! There's a ton of beautiful outdoors stuff in the Bay area that will probably be pretty empty.
posted by drjimmy11 at 7:05 PM on December 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'm pretty sure state parks are closed on Christmas day.
posted by Nomyte at 7:37 PM on December 24, 2013

What's wrong with Chinese food and a movie?
posted by Jacqueline at 7:37 PM on December 24, 2013 [3 favorites]

A few things:

Open restaurants

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy (cocktail show still available)

Ugly Sweater Rock Paper Scissors Christmas Pub Crawl and Caroling
posted by cecic at 7:40 PM on December 24, 2013

The weather will be amazing tomorrow! If you have a car, go to Tilden Park in the East Bay. Or walk out to Land's End. I'm going to dim sum at the Hong Kong Lounge. See if Trad'r Sam's is open and go tiki.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 8:41 PM on December 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Go to Chinatown! Eat at the first restaurant which smells so good you can't pass it by.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:55 PM on December 24, 2013 [3 favorites]

Really can't go wrong with the dim sum lunch suggestions.

Also, consider a stroll through Redwood Park in the Oakland hills.
posted by colin_l at 8:56 PM on December 24, 2013 [2 favorites]

Take the 38 Geary out to the end of the line and walk Land's End and some piece of Ocean Beach. Facilities (bathroom, eating spots) will likely be closed but aside from the air quality the weather should be lovely. It would help if we knew what you like!
posted by rtha at 9:01 PM on December 24, 2013 [2 favorites]

It looks like there are a couple of City Guides tours running on Christmas Day: North Beach (a traditionally Italian neighborhood) and the Japanese tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. Tours are free but they ask for donations at the end. I haven't been on these particular tours but others have been decent to really outstanding.
posted by Quietgal at 9:44 PM on December 24, 2013 [2 favorites]

The zoo is open.
Also, it should be a great day for a walk through Golden Gate Park.
posted by chbrooks at 9:46 PM on December 24, 2013

You could maybe go Ice skating and then take a look at Christmas lights displays. Then go get some hot chocolate.
posted by Dimes at 10:19 PM on December 24, 2013

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.
posted by Dansaman at 11:04 PM on December 24, 2013

Be sure to scroll down on the Ugly Sweater link for the other events--there is a lot going on. Maybe an hour or two of volunteering at some point. Volunteering was a great gift of gratitude to me from me when I was all alone on Christmas and feeling a wee bit sorry for myself, not that you are but it's different and surprising all the same.
posted by Anitanola at 11:05 PM on December 24, 2013

Rtha describes a Xmas day I spent in SF in 2000. I also wrote a story and read it to my friend over a bottle of wine at Sutro Heights. Memorable.
posted by Riverine at 8:52 AM on December 25, 2013

Hike out to the new bridge section. (You'd have to start over on the East Bay side though.)
posted by mikeand1 at 10:16 AM on December 25, 2013