Review Highlights
“My partner and I have seen both Ennio and Dear San Francisco; frankly, I can't decide which we enjoyed more.” in 84 reviews
“Last night (December 6, 2023) was my first time back to Club Fugazi since Beach Blanket Babylon closed in 2019.” in 52 reviews
“Not just a acrobatic circus, but a love letter to San Francisco, with personal stories and moments woven throughout.” in 17 reviews
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![Photo of David D.](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/buphoto/KQkv4o2CRn6wP9htJxAAfA/90s.jpg)
David D.
Powered by exhilarating acrobatics, choreography, spoken word, video projections, shadow play, and original music, "Dear San Francisco" invites locals and visitors alike on a heart-stopping romp through both the essence and the myth that has San Francisco indelibly etched on our collective imagination. From the Gold Rush and 1906 earthquake to the beat poetry and the mysterious fog, San Francisco comes vividly to life through a series of tableaus (acts) including hoop diving, Chinese pole, Korean plank, hand-balancing, juggling, and "hand-to-trap" (a form first created by Shana Carroll performed by an international cast of world-class acrobats. The acclaimed acrobatic "Dear San Francisco" is an intimate and immersive resident production from The 7 Fingers, one of the world's leading contemporary circus arts companies. Created by Bay Area natives, The 7 Fingers co-founders Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider, Dear San Francisco pays homage to the stunning beauty, storied characters, and astounding resilience of the City by the Bay. "Dear San Francisco is the result of a lifelong love affair with the city that continues to reinvent, redefine, and inspire awe," said Snyder and Carroll in a joint statement. "A theatrical love letter of sorts, our hope is that this production will create a shining and welcoming light for all in the San Francisco Bay Area."
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Are children allowed?
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yes, lots of laughing and amazed kid sounds around me
Joyce T.1 person found this helpful
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Overall rating
400 reviews
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- Aug 24, 2024
I never saw Beach Blanket Babylon, so I had no idea what the venue was like. Club Fugazi is surprisingly small and intimate which makes the audience experience very intense.
We saw Dear San Francisco which I had heard about from a couple of different friends. I had heard it described as an "acrobatic" show....which I guess it mostly is? But there are so many different aspects to it, that "acrobatics" seems limiting. What I can say is that it is very interactive and so cool to be so close to the performers; the performers were all amazingly athletic, and it's a wonder that they do this so many times a week.Helpful 1Thanks 1Love this 1Oh no 0Business owner information
David D.
Aug 24, 2024
Thank you for joining us for Dear San Francisco. We totally feel you here- the show is so many things it feels reductive to name it any one thing. This is a hallmark of the company behind it- The 7 Fingers. Throughout the 23 years of this company’s life we have struggled to convey the special experience on offer. It is helpful when people try!
- Cj O.Pacific Palisades, CA03817Jul 12, 2024
Dear San Francisco
Was a visual and musical delight
Like Cirque de Soliel meets Westside Story meets Poetry reading all in SFO context
Supporting local artists is a must!
Can order drinks and eat savory to sweet snacks from other restaurants the areaHelpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
David D.
Jul 13, 2024
Thank you for writing- and for your support of San Francisco artists! Glad you enjoyed the experience.
- Jul 3, 2024
Just WOW!!!
It's a nice intimate theater so you get to see the action no matter where you sit!
We were looking for something to do in San Francisco tonight, and this popped up! I had to check the reviews on all the websites; and we booked it! We got seats as close as we could get to the stage!
It was so beautiful and choreographed to PERFECTION. Everything about "Dear San Francisco" was PERFECT!
I'd come back to see them perform again.
The service was quick and the food was nice to enjoy along with the show. Wasn't amazed by the savory items but the tiramisu dessert was super yummy!
If you're a tourist or looking for a fun date night, DO THIS! It was unexpectedly fun!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
David D.
Jul 4, 2024
Glad you took the chance and joined us at Dear San Francisco! Thank you for taking the time to share here. As you experienced first hand, customer reviews are the best way for people to figure out if the Club should be on their list of things to do in the city.
- Aug 3, 2024Updated review
I cannot tell you how amazing this place is. The theater, the history, the service, the food, the SHOW. They are ALWAYS one-upping themselves. This is probably the 6th (or 7th? I can't keep track) time I have visited to see Dear San Francisco. The show brings a tear to my eye every time and I'm always leaving with the want to come back ASAP. You HAVE to come see Dear SF in Club Fugazi. You just HAVE to.
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David D.
Apr 16, 2022
Wow! You said in your original review that you were going to make a habit of this show and we are so glad you did! And you wouldn’t be alone in that. Many people are coming regularly at this point. We are developing a membership program as a matter of fact to make that easy. Come any time!
Apr 16, 2022Previous reviewAmazing!
AMAZING.
Dear San Francisco by the 7 Fingers was incredible and awe-inspiring. So much energy exploding out of a relatively small stage, but that meant you could be up close and personal with the performers. It just drew you further into their world and made the whole venue their stage. The show was filled with art, dance, music, poetry, comedy, romance, adrenaline, culture, performers from around the world, and above all/my favorite - circus. Aerials, diabolo, pole, tumbling, acro, and more that I've forgotten the names for. I LOVED this circus show, it superseded all my expectations and I was sad when the 90 minutes came to an end. I asked if I could come back to see it tomorrow!
Club Fugazi was a wonderful host, the staff were welcoming and attentive, and you can tell with every action they were paying tribute to the legacy of the theater.
I want everyone to come see this show. And I want it to be acceptable for me to make this my regular weekend activity. - Squirl B.SoMa, San Francisco, CA01Aug 30, 2024Updated review
I have seen this show three times in the last three years and it is awesome! We just went this past Wednesday and they added a titter totter performance that amazed us. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates acrobatics, creativity, and the strength it takes to put on a show like the Seven Fingers do!
Enjoy and bring a couple of friends!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
David D.
Jun 4, 2023
Thank you for sharing - especially for encouraging the multi-generational outing! It works as a date night just as well as it works for families. A rare bird that can do both.
Note to readers: the teeter board routine is only in the show through 9/26/24 but will return again in Spring of ‘25. The show is ever evolving, which rewards multiple viewings, hence 30% of ticket purchasers have seen it multiple times.Jun 4, 2023Previous reviewAbsolutely an amazing, energetic show with amazing talented artists! It was so much fun, I have seen it twice and the second time I brought my 10 yr old granddaughter and 12 yr old nephew and they were mesmerized! I will see it again and I tell everyone about it!!
- Mar 18, 2024
Did not know what to expect. Was told it was a show I must see and so I went. Boy was I surprised. It is at the old Beach Blanket Babylon theater with a little remodeling. You walk in, register booth on the right and the unisex bathroom on the left. Inside seating are comfortable swivel seats. Depending on your tier, you can have lower swivel or a high swivel. Some have long skinny/tiny tables in front of them and some do not. I ended up getting seats that did not have a table. Made it very uncomfortable to have to swivel around to place my drinks and food on the table behind me where it's next to a couple's drink/purse/menus/etc. (awkward and made me uneasy about items that I was ingesting) and miss parts of the show (the company should change that situation).
Joey served my drinks and food and he was amazing. Very friendly and great customer service. High five to Joey!!
As for the show, some people got postcards to write and some did not (I did not). They read three of them during the show. A postcard from Hunter Pence was read (did that mean he was there??!). The whole theme was kept in the BAY, especially SF. The show was very intimate and interactive with the audience (made it fun). The acts were incredible and different. Great story line about a couple in the act (must see for yourself). All the performers really look like they LOVE what they do which makes the show even better.
I have nothing but great things to say. The only issue was what seemed like an 8 inch table that I had to swivel around to place my items, look at another couple every time I do, eat awkwardly (had a knife and fork dish and that was hard to eat on my lap), and missing part of the shows. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
David D.
Mar 20, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to write-- and for your enthusiastic reporting on your experience! A couple of notes for your next visit, or others making plans. Re: the postcards Everyone who would like to write a postcard is encouraged to do so and the postcards are passed around liberally. We also remind people from the stage five minutes before the show that they have time to write one. I'm sorry you missed that invitation. Only three of them are read on any given night. Re: the seating There are seats on both sides of the first three counters on the orchestra level, yes. You can see that indicated on the seat map when you are purchasing. This facilitates groups of four or more at the show being able to socialize during their visit, rather than everyone being seated shoulder to shoulder in a long line. It's a very social atmosphere, but we can understand that some folks may prefer less interaction with others at the show. The final three counters, and all the mezzanine seats, are "one-sided" to support that. So, look at the seat map as you are making your purchase-- and if you have ANY questions, just give us a call. We're happy to make sure you wind up with a seat you are comfortable with. Re; Joey Yes. He's simply the best. Re: The performers They do, in fact, love what they are doing. Thank you for pointing that out. The whole experience is designed to spark joy and function as a love letter, and we're delighted that you were able to enter that spirit even with the challenge you had with your choice of seat. So helpful when people leave detailed reviews like yours. Especially when they have such generous things to say about the experience.
- 1691164321368Jan 2, 2024
This is a really cute and cozy venue for enjoying a show, especially Dear San Francisco, which we experienced this past Sunday. Tip for short people, best seats for good viewing are balcony or first 5 rows on the main level (as it's not stadium seating), but the action takes place both on and off stage, with performers utilizing the aisles and other areas of the theater during the show, so expect the unexpected.
The lighting, sound, props, choreography... all of it, amazing! Touching upon the emotions of attendees and their connections to the city, many of them SF residents, but also appealing to visitors from all over, of various ages, backgrounds, and stories. The 7 Fingers troupe put on a skillful performance, full of passion and beautiful artistry, with acrobatics and dance and a unique twist on classic circus acts. And their camaraderie on stage could be both seen and felt.
Food and drinks are served at your seats, but the menu is small, so don't expect too much. The italian blonde ale and rosé were good enough beer and wine selections, no complaints. And I appreciated that the service was courteous and careful not to disturb guests' experience in the middle of the show.
We arrived exactly at "showtime" (the time listed on our tickets), and there was a huge line outside on the sidewalk, barely moving (this is on New Year's Eve, the early show). They were surprisingly slow in getting people seated (I could have seated myself faster, especially since it's a small theater with reserved seating)... strange thing, we weren't actually late.
Though it's noted on their website that it's a 90-minute show, and they encourage guests to arrive 50 minutes in advance, they failed to mention that the actual start time of the show was 30 minutes AFTER the time listed on tickets. That makes it hard to plan around the event (ie. dinner reservations, etc), since if it starts 30 minutes later than expected, it also ends 30 minutes later. Wish there was a little more transparency in their communication with guests. But if you're reading this, at least now you know. [UPDATE: see business manager's response for correct showtime info)Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 6Oh no 1Business owner information
David D.
Jan 3, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to write-- and for the great photos! For the record, the start time of the show IS actually the announced time. But, as you saw, a huge number of people arrived at that time rather than take us up on the suggestion of arriving in time to order a drink and a snack. As a result, we were faced with the choice of starting on time and having the entire show disrupted by the 120+ people who didn't come on time, or keeping folks in the venue engaged while we seated the folks in line. It was a very unusual audience pattern for us that we are still trying to sort through. Generally people know to arrive before the announced start time. Somehow this particular show was an outlier. Thanks for bearing with it.
- 72312Jan 20, 2024
An Absolute Experience
I'm going to come back and finish this review, but it is absolutely worthy of every penny and more. All of us were in tears by the end of this masterpiece. They should be so proud for such a beautiful work of art they've curated for the world.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
David D.
Jan 20, 2024
Aww- thank you so much for taking the time to write. I can attest to the sense of pride we all feel in the experience we are creating here. And it is deeply meaningful for all when people recognize what we are aiming for. So helpful.
- Dec 24, 2023
Another long time San Francisco institution that I recently attended! The last time I was here, it was still showing Beach Blanket Babylon (and that show ended its run in 2019).
I came to see their new show Dear SF on 12/17 and it was amazing--I had a fantastic time, lots of energy throughout the show. There is still acting/singing but now acrobatics is part of the show--kinda of Broadway meets Cirque du Soleil. Definitely worth seeing and lots of fun.
The venue has been redesigned--no more little round tables, but now it's rows of bar stools & tables--it's a more cozier vibe.
Visitors and locals alike, you must come check out the show!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
David D.
Dec 25, 2023
Thank you for writing, Kathy, and sharing your experience of the show and the club. The photos are so helpful for people wondering what all the fuss is about! Happy Holidays.
- Jun 18, 2024
Had such a lovely time seeing the acrobatics show here! It is literally a love letter to San Francisco and I love how they mix in the city's history! I was awestruck throughout and the service is good as you can order food/drink during the show. I forget if it's 60 or 90 min show, pretty entertaining! Great to take visitors to or even for a nice date night or night out as a local!
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David D.
Jun 19, 2024
Dear San Francisco is a 90-minute show that flies by- literally! Thank you for writing. We are grateful that you took the time to share your experience and delighted to read it was a successful outing for you!
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