Free Day and Fortepiano recital & lecture. At 2:00PM learn about Beethoven’s life and music through a joint lecture and recital. Free admission to the museum all day

Please note event date change to November 23, 2008 (previously it was scheduled for November 16th) - A multi-cultural celebration, Pier 39’s Holiday Tree Lighting will feature Bay Area groups performing seasonal favorites from around the world. The enchanting entertainment will include holiday traditions from Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa. PIER 39’s majestic tree, adorned with 400 glistening ornaments, 500 bows and 2,000 twinkling lights will be lit at 5:30 p.m. in the Entrance Plaza.

Come out at “Pley” at the 4th annual Yelp Holiday Party from 9 to 11pm on Wednesday December 3rd at the Exploratorium in the Marina District. The event is free but RSVPs are required. Deadline to RSVP is November 26th - send your Yelp Profile URL and full name to pley@yelp.com. They’ll have a full open bar, beer from Firestone, yummy bites from local restaurants including Bissap Baobob, Baraka, Pacific Catch, Samovar Tea Lounge, access to the museums exhibit, along with entertainment from the Bay Area Derby Girls, Double Dutch, Hoop Girl and more. Limited designated driver rides home by Zipcar.

Popscene and Mezzanine present the first annual SF Thanksgiving Orphan’s Ball featuring a headlining performance by The Lovemakers, Oakland’s sexiest electro-pop band. They draw on darker sonic influences like Depeche Mode and the Cure while simultaneously yielding rock riffs comparable to those championed by peers like the Raveonettes and the White Stripes. Live support comes from Wallpaper and Hot Tub, while Popscene DJ Aaron Axelsen battles it out with New Wave City DJs Skip & Shindog. Source: The Onion AV Club

Popscene, San Francisco’s direct connection to britpop music and dance, presents their 9th annual thanksgiving night concert and dance party. This Charming Band performs all your favorite Smiths and Morrissey classics, plus a DJ dance party with Nako and Aaron (extra helpings of Smiths and Moz tunes of course)

  This will be the 29th Annual Parade of Lights in Downtown San Rafael (Friday at 5:30p), and the 19th straight year of free snow sledding on A Street between Fourth & Fifth Streets (Friday Noon to 4p, 6p to 8p; Saturday 9a-2p). The Holiday Market will be held from 4pm to 8pm on Friday. It will be located on Fourth Street between Lootens Place and B Street. There will be Holiday Entertainment and musical performances at different locations on Fourth Street between Lootens and “A”. (more…)

The 44th Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place at 5:30pm. Ghirardelli’s magical square comes alive with colorful performers, music, Santa Claus, a 50-foot Christmas to tree lighting up the night and snow.

Set amidst one of the San Francisco’s most dramatic historical landmark buildings, Mission Bazaar is a unique craft and performance expo that will showcase some of the Bay Area’s most vibrant creative talent at The Mission Armory, a 200,000 square foot reproduction Moorish Castle. The Bazaar will showcase a diverse collection of artisans exhibiting their creative works, products, fashion and accessories. There will be over 20 hours of live performances on three stages featuring live music, circus and dance acts, performance artists and DJs, including gypsy jazz, bellydance, spoken word, beatbox, choral ensembles, fashion shows, puppetry, flamenco guitar, and more.

Shadows of War Performance: The Lopez Family in the Philippines 1901. Presidio Officers’ Club Produced by San Francisco’s Bindlestiff Studio, this multi-media dramatic production inspired by the exhibition will feature Filipino-American actors and live music. Four Thursday Performances from 7 to 8 pm: November 6, December 4, January 8, and February 5.