You know the holiday season is here when the city's ice rinks open. Starting November 11 (through January 3, 2010) you can enter your own winter wonderland and skate at the Holiday Ice Rink at the Embarcadero and the Union Square Ice Rink downtown. Now, where's that hot cocoa cart when you need it?

Cirque du Soleil's latest production, OVO, will make its U.S. premiere in San Francisco Nov. 27, 2009, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. OVO, which means "egg" in Portuguese, utilizes the symbol of the life cycle and adapts it to a colony of insects who are awestruck when a mysterious egg appears in their midst. A cast of 54 performing artists from 13 countries will make the teeming world of these quirky critters come alive. A stunning trapeze act employing the skills of six flyers is the biggest of its kind ever presented under Cirque du Soleil's distinctive blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top).

The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, American Express and Westfield San Francisco Centre are bringing cheer to the holiday season with special offers for visitors to San Francisco through a "Stay & Shop SF" promotion October 1, 2009 to Jan. 31, 2010. Visitors who book a two-night minimum stay at one of 15 participating hotels on the Only in San Francisco website with an American Express card will receive a $50 Westfield American Express gift card (limit one gift card per stay), free parking and free breakfast.

Not all hamburgers are created equal. At the new Burger Bar in Union Square, a Kobe beef burger comes crowned with a slab of sautéed foie gras and shaved truffles. The buffalo burger dons a mini spinach salad. It's all part of internationally acclaimed chef Hubert Keller's deluxe burger bar concept, which originated in Las Vegas and just opened in Macy's Cellar. If beef isn't your thing, go for the turkey burger with cranberry sauce on Ciabatta or the Vegas vegan option. Wash it all down with a glass of wine, beer, or customized milkshake.

San Francisco's second annual cornucopia of culinary delights, The Fabulous Food Festival will take place November 7-8, 2009. More than 150 exhibitors will offer free samples and products for purchase. More than 20 different food categories will be featured - everything from chocolate to cheese and sauces to soup. Highlighted over the entire weekend will be a full schedule of cooking demos and lectures by well-known Bay Area chefs, authors and food experts.

According to the National Endowment for the Arts, San Francisco boasts more artists per square foot than any other city in the country. Each autumn artists open their studio doors to the public for a sort of free-for-all citywide exhibition that ranges from installations, painting and photography to furniture, glass and textiles. It's a great chance to see artists at work and discover little-known neighborhoods. SF Open Studios runs weekends through November 1. Visit ArtSpan for more information.

On Sunday October 18th admission is free at four of San Francisco's major museums: SF MOMA, Zeum, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the Museum of the African Diaspora as part of Target Family Day. Billed as the city's biggest daylong block party, the event will feature free performances and activities at all the venues listed above. For more information visit the Yerba Buena Alliance or check out our guide to the city's top museums.

The 27th annual San Francisco Jazz Festival is in full swing this week, with an impressive lineup of performers ranging from Ravi Shankar to Ornette Coleman. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the event, "The music knows no boundaries. This season promises to inspire with every beat." The festival runs through November 21; visit the San Francisco Jazz Festival for tickets and more information.

Top graffiti artists from around the country will gather tomorrow, October 10, at de Fremery Park in Oakland for a live graffiti contest. Canvases 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide will be set up throughout the park; artists will have five hours to work. It's all part of the Living Word Festival founded by Youth Speaks. Visit the Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle for more information.

Here's some insider info only a local could pass along! A new website called Bay Area Half Off offers up to 75 percent off gift certificates to many promiment San Francisco restaurants, bars, museums, services, and stores. You can purchase a $100 gift certificate to Jillian's Sports Bar for just $25; a $36 certificate to the kids' museum Zeum (covers admission for four) goes for only $9; or snag $75 worth of Zip Car rentals for just $18. Purchase gift certificates online at Bay Area Half Off.