Things to do in San Francisco this week: August 31-September 4

Mahjong gets a smart after-work setting at The Jay, where four open tables on the Third Floor Terrace turn a cocktail hour into something more interactive. The $25 ticket covers a Mahjong-themed cocktail, but the more compelling reason to go is the format: instructors are on hand, so you can show up without knowing the difference between a chow and a kong, while experienced players can settle in for open play. That makes this a particularly easy way to try the game without committing to a class or bringing a whole group. The terrace also gives the evening a welcome change of pace from the usual downtown bar routine. Come solo, bring a friend or arrive with a half-formed Mahjong obsession and see where it goes.

Thursday afternoons have a pretty good soundtrack at the Ferry Building, where Music on the Plaza pairs live Bay Area musicians with one of the waterfront’s easiest places to linger. The setup is deliberately low-key: music runs from 5 to 7pm on the North Plaza, next to the Fort Point Beer Garden, making it an appealing stop after work or a reason to stretch an afternoon downtown a little longer. There is no need to turn it into a whole production. Grab something from the market, find a spot outside and let the music fill in the rest. The rotating lineup of local performers keeps the series from feeling like background programming you can ignore, while the Thursday timing makes it an unusually painless way to ease into the weekend. For a casual drink, a bite and some live music by the water, this one gets the balance right.

Weeknight plans do not have to mean squeezing into a crowded bar. This early Tuesday roller disco is an easy excuse to lace up, get moving, and spend 90 minutes circling one of the city's most distinctive skating floors. The all-ages session keeps the focus on skating itself, making it just as welcoming for families and first-timers as regulars working on footwork between songs. Skate rentals are available if you do not have your own pair, so there is little standing between you and the rink. What makes this session especially appealing is its timing. You can get your fill of music and movement, then still have the rest of the evening ahead of you. Sometimes the best midweek reset is the simplest one: a few laps, a good playlist, and a reason to leave your phone in your pocket for a while.

The appeal here is the pairing: Sinatra’s polished swing and Armstrong’s unmistakable warmth make for a set that can move easily from “Fly Me to the Moon” to “What a Wonderful World” without feeling like a greatest-hits playlist. The live band gets room to rework both catalogs, which is more interesting than a straight imitation of the originals. The Palace Theater is also a fitting home for it, with its Prohibition-era nightclub setup and hidden-room details adding some character before the first note. At an hour, this is an easy night out rather than a major time commitment, and the 21-plus rule keeps the room firmly in evening territory. Go for the music, but take a moment to appreciate the setting too. It is one of those rare cases where the venue actually complements the material.

Grace Cathedral is already one of Nob Hill's best reasons to look up, but AURA gives you a very different excuse. For 45 minutes, Moment Factory's projection mapping turns the cathedral's stonework into a shifting canvas of light, color and original music, with sequences that move from storms and crashing waves to blooming ceilings and star-filled skies. The clever part is how closely the visuals work with the building itself, making the architecture part of the show rather than just an impressive backdrop. Arrive early for the 15-minute interactive exploration, which uses a web app to point out details of the cathedral before the main presentation begins. Select dates also include live music before the show. It is a polished, visually ambitious way to spend an evening in Nob Hill, particularly if you have never seen Grace Cathedral illuminated quite like this.

“Long Time Listener, First Time Caller” has a premise that feels particularly suited to Endgames Improv: the audience supplies the raw material, and the performers turn it into something that exists only for that night. The show takes its cues from the rhythms of call-in radio, with audience participation shaping the improvisation rather than simply sitting back and watching a preset set of scenes. That makes this a good choice for anyone who likes their comedy unpredictable and wants to have some say in what happens onstage. Endgames has long been a good home for experimental improv in San Francisco, and this format gives the performers plenty of room to follow an unexpected suggestion somewhere strange. On September 3, it makes for an easy weeknight pick when you want comedy that cannot be replayed the same way twice.