Rarely staged today, Pericles is this year's selection for S.F.'s Free Shakespeare in the Park program. (2008 also happens to be the play's 400th anniversary.) While not among Shakespeare's more well-known plays, Pericles nonetheless offers a familiar story: of good triumphing over evil, of faith and virtue being rewarded.

It's an adventure. A tale of trials and tribulations, love, loss, and reunion, as Pericles, Prince of Tyre, embarks on a journey of escape and survival -- one that proves a test to his faith even after he becomes king. (Fortunately, there's a happy ending.)

San Francisco's Free Shakespeare in the Park is now in its 26th season, and as always, will stage its city production at the Presidio's Parade Grounds. Performances are held over the weekend, starting August 30 through September 21. For Labor Day only, the company will also perform Pericles on Monday (at 2:30 p.m.).

As for Labor Day, for more ideas on what to see and do over the long weekend, see our quick guide. In addition to Shakespeare, the city is also having concerts, cruises, and nearby in Sausalito, a popular open-air arts festival.

Related: The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival | Free Things to Do in San Francisco

^{* Michael C. Storm as Pericles, the Prince of Tyre. Photo © John Western.}

Holding a Master of Science in glassblowing as well as a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture, Dale Chihuly revolutionized the studio-glass movement with not only his artworks, but his ideas on collaboration and the creative process. Through September 28, 2008, his first major exhibition in San Francisco is being shown at the de Young Museum.

Chihuly at the de Young explores the groundbreaking work of the artist, in particular Chihuly's masterpiece assemblages. In addition to the main exhibition pieces, there are also sculptures that have been on display at the de Young Museum (and sister museum Legion of Honor) since April: namely the neon Saffron Tower, the 15-foot Sun orb, and the Aquamarine Three-Tiered Chandelier.

In all, the exhibition features 11 galleries of new and archival works, together representing four decades of innovation and mastery. Chihuly at the de Young aims to convey the creative vision, breadth, and scope of the artist's contributions. To the studio-glass movement and contemporary art in general.

The show covers every creative period of Chihuly's career thus far, from drawings to single vessels to his famed architectural installations. During your visit, be sure to check out:

• Glass Forest #3, a recreation of one of Dale Chihuly's earliest installations, first exhibited in New York and not viewed in the U.S. since 1972.
• Five Chandeliers, transforming one gallery all to itself.
• Mille Fiori, (pictured in detail) a 56-foot glass garden.
• Tabac Baskets, a source of inspiration.

Given the popularity of the exhibition, timed tickets are being issued to reduce crowds and increase viewing enjoyment. The museum recommends that if possible, visit during the week or right when the de Young opens at 9:30 a.m. -- a great way to start your day off in the city. Tickets are $15 for adults, with discounts for seniors, youth, and students. Children 12 and under can visit for free.

Also, remember that the museum is open later on Fridays, until 8:45 p.m. Should your visit to San Francisco permit it, consider going in the evening to also see the Saffron Tower lit (5-11 p.m. daily).

Related: Photo Gallery: Exhibition Images | Official Exhibition Site

^{* Mille Fiori, (detail) Dale Chihuly. Photo © Terry Rishel.}

These days, when connectivity is weak and access to the Internet impossible, it can be quite unsettling. Whether it's your home computer, laptop, workstation, or phone, it seems we're all connected in some way: 24 hours a day. And when that connection leaves us, for many of us, things can seem a little "off" until power is restored.

For travelers, air travel has historically cut us off from the online world, but perhaps not for long. JetBlue Airways for instance, already offers limited Wi-Fi service on certain flights and Continental Airlines plans to follow a similar route.

With American Airlines' new service however, full Internet access is offered, from surfing the Web to email (with attachments) to accessing corporate VPNs. The "in-flight" test expanded on Wednesday to include non-stop flights from New York City to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami.¹

For now, the service is being tested on American's 15 Boeing 767-200 planes. Partnering with provider Aircell Gogo on a trial basis, American is still working out the specifics and addressing concerns, such as filtering racy material and securing confidential business emails, etc.

User feedback will help the airline determine its next step, whether to start over or to expand the service to other flights. To try the service yourself, the price is $12.95 per flight for full Internet access. The only limitation is that no VoIP calls can be placed (so as to ensure maximum quiet for surrounding passengers).

• Service: In-flight Internet access courtesy of American Airlines and Aircell Gogo
• Routes: Boeing 767-200 from JFK/LGA to SFO, LAX, and MIA
• Trial Period: Three to six months
• Cost: $12.95 per flight

^{* American Airlines, San Francisco International Airport. Photo © Justin Sullivan/Getty Images. | 1 Press release, "American Airlines Launches..." August 20, 2008.}

Taking over Golden Gate Park this weekend is the inaugural Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, a three-day concert event that will bring together some 60+ acts to rock the day and night in San Francisco.

The bands selected by Berkeley-based firm Another Planet Entertainment are great live bands, ones that bring with them credibility among critics and fans alike. Of the nearly 70 acts, a quarter of them hail from the Bay Area. The three headliners however are true global artists, including Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (Saturday), Jack Johnson (Sunday), and the band many considered to be the best in the world: Radiohead (Friday). They'll be the first ever to play under the stars in Golden Gate Park.

For visitors to the city, it's very possible that you're here now because of Outside Lands. However, if you're just hearing about it and haven't purchased your ticket, there's still time. Acts will be playing across six stages and there should be room for everyone. An estimated 60,000 fans will make the trek to Golden Gate Park Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets are $85 for single-day General Admission and $225 for a three-day pass. For more information on the lineup, schedule, and attractions, check out our quick guide here.

Also: The Official Site | MySpace | Facebook

^{* Poster © the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival.}