Everyone in the Bay Area knows that the best place to take kids in San Francisco on a rainy day is the Exploratorium, one of the nation's most innovative children's science museums. But even many locals don't know that the Exploratorium hosts a special monthly night party designed just for adults.

The Exploratorium After Dark Series combines a cash cocktail bar with exhibits and presentations on the hottest scientific topics of the day, including sexuality, politics and spirituality. These events take place on the first Thursday of every month from 6pm until 10pm and require a separate admission. Check the online schedule for current and upcoming After Dark events at the Exploratorium.

Yes, we know that Carnaval is traditionally held in February and is tied to the fasting held after Ash Wednesday, but in San Francisco we do everything a little differently. Plus, unlike the Atlantic coast of Brazil and the humid Caribbean, it's usually cold and rainy here at that time, so instead we throw the San Francisco Carnaval, which is California's largest multi-cultural festival, near the end of every May.

This year the festival takes place on May 26th and 27th in the Mission District, the city's vibrant Latin quarter. On both days, a seven block stretch of Harrison Street - between 16th and 23rd Streets - will be closed to traffic and packed with large outdoor stages, food vendors and tons of people ready to have a good time.

The highlight of the festival however is the San Francisco Carnaval Parade, which takes place on Sunday and is in it's 34th year. Costumed samba, salsa and folkloric dancers parade down Mission Street in an all out party of epic proportions that begins at 9:30am and continues through the afternoon.

Check the Official Website for more information.

Image Courtesy of Carnaval.com Studios through Creative Commons

This weekend the Phoenix Hotel turns into a three day arts bash as the graduating class of the San Francisco Art Institute use it as a masive gallery for their works. Neary one hundred artists will fill the hotel's guest rooms, lobby and pool-side courtyard with paintings, sculptures, multi-media and installation pieces and the event is free and open to the public all weekend long.

Each evening you get a chance to meet the artists and find out more about the artwork as the hotel's own Bambuddha Lounge, which is on our list of Swanky Cocktail Bars worth checking out, hosts an informal after party and mixer.

• Where: The Phoenix Hotel, 601 Eddy Street, San Francisco, CA
• When: Friday, May 11 - Sunday, May 13, 2012, Noon till 10pm Daily
• Admission: Free
• More Info: www.sfai.edu

Formerly called Jewels in the Square, the revamped, reinvigorated and turbo-charged annual Union Square free concert series is back as Union Square Live for 2012.

Concerts are usually held on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons and there are also Tango, Salsa and Swing dance lessons and live music preformances on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Wednesday nights of the month, respectively, as well.

Although only a partial schedule has been released so far, the line up looks incredible and visitors to San Francisco's Union Square area this summer have several top notch free concerts and performances to plan thier trip around, including:

• Push Dance - Live dance perfromances that use 3D projections to guide the crowd as well as the dancers. Fri May 25, Sat May 26, Sun May 27 and Mon May 28, 8-10pm.
• Marcus Cohen and the Congress - One of the bay areas favorite soul, R&B and jazz fusion artists funks it up on the outdoor stage. Sun June 3, 2-4pm
• DJ Fingersnaps and Sf Art Collective - This special dance party happens as part of the huge SF Pride Festival and Parade weekend. Sun June 24, 2-4pm

The full 2012 schedule has not been released yet at time of writing but the Union Square Live series is supposed to run well into October. Check the official website for updates and more scheduled events.