Dance pioneer Tharp visits Herbst in San Francisco

It’s difficult to take an interest in modern American dance without encountering the influence of choreographer Twyla Tharp.

City Arts & Lectures presents Tharp, one of the pioneers of contemporary dance, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, at Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco.

A Tony Award winner in 2002 for her choreography for Billy Joel’s Broadway musical, “Movin’ Out,” Tharp was named a Kennedy Center Honoree last year.

She has created choreography for the Joffrey Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet and the Martha Graham Dance Company.

And she has collaborated on new dance pieces with dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and musician David Byrne of the Talking Heads.

Tickets: $15-$25. Information: (415) 392-4400, cityboxoffice.com.

— Dan Taylor

Visitors to the Mendocino Coast are faced with an agonizing choice. Which charming inn should they bed down in? For one weekend, however, you can sample them all, like ordering multiple small plates at a fine restaurant.

For three nights, you can dreamily float from one auberge to another. Stop by and catch a bit of the cozy atmosphere of the inns of Little River and Albion on Dec. 9. On Dec. 10, the inns of Mendocino open their doors to non-overnight guests. On Dec. 11, make your way up to the inns and lodges of Fort Bragg.

The Mendocino Coast Candlelight Inn tours run from 5 to 8 each night. Tickets are $25 or $10 for kids and are good all three days. Call 964-1228 or e-mail bbbs@mcn.org for information and tickets.

— Meg McConahey

Planning a holiday outing in the city with the little ones? San Francisco’s shopping hubs are ready to light the way. Pier 39 will hold a multicultural event from 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 22 that culminates at 5:30 p.m. with a tree-lighting ceremony.

The Ghirardelli Square Holiday Tree Lighting gets under way at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 27, with hot chocolate and a visit from the North Pole’s most famous couple, followed by the twinkling of tree lights at 5:30 p.m.

Union Square gets decked out on Nov. 27, luring shoppers with holiday windows and all-day festivities from noon until the tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.

— Diane Peterson