Alicia Cocchi

Three weeks ago, The Standard issued a challenge: Film yourself doing the Katseye x Gap dance and tag us. The Bay Area’s dancers didn’t just show up — they showed out. The submissions flooded our feeds: More than 50 videos, shot everywhere: parking lots, living rooms, community centers, backyards, Union Square. Some came with professional-level production value. Others were the product of an iPhone propped on a shelf and the kind of confidence that doesn’t need a ring light.

The San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker is a holiday tradition that enchants audiences year after year. But while the spotlight naturally gravitates toward the ballet performers who take the stage, it’s another, more remarkable dance transpiring in the shadows that transforms Tchaikovsky’s 1892 work into a true spectacle. Beyond the War Memorial Opera House’s stage door, a sprawling hive of activity unfolds.

Food & Drink Written by Alicia CocchiPublished Dec. 10, 2023 • 8:00am Bring the Bay Area's culinary magic home for Christmas with an exquisite takeout dinner to make your celebrations unforgettable. | Source: kajakiki/Getty Images As the holiday season approaches, many families find themselves caught in the whirlwind of planning, cooking and cleaning, often sacrificing precious moments with loved ones for kitchen tasks.