Are you "Mad as Hell" about hidden airline fees?

Shakespeare in the Park Grab a blanket and a picnic and head down to the Presidio for the Annual Free Shakespeare in the Park. This year, director Kenneth Kelleher brings us Two Gentlemen of Verona, with many much-loved actors from past years. Make sure to come early to grab a good spot, since the plays tend to draw big crowds. When? Saturday evenings at 7:30, and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm through September. Main Post Parade Ground Lawn (between Graham St & Keyes Ave) SF Fringe theater festival The annual SF Fringe theater festival, known for cutting-edge theater, presents 43 short plays over 12 days by both local and international performers. The festival has been described by SF Weekly as a "theatrical free-for-all." Check out one play, or join the cultish fans trying to cram in a dozen during the 2-week stretch. When? September 8–19. Tickets are $12.99 and under, $10 at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis 30 minutes before the show. Cash only; limit 4 tickets per person. See 5 shows for $40 or 10 shows for $75. Fort Point candlelight tours Tickets to the ever-popular guided nighttime candlelight tours of historic Fort Point—with views of the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge—sell out quickly. September 1st is the first day that you can make a reservation for the tours starting in November, so if you're planning a winter trip, reserve now. When? Saturday evenings, November through February (reservations accepted starting September 1st); 415/556-1693; Fort Point, at the end of Marine Drive on the Presidio of San Francisco. J-Pop, Japantown's pop culture festival Japan is arguable the apex of modern pop-culture, setting trends for everything from anime and horror films to teenage fashion. Lucky for us, the pop culture collective New People World are bringing their Japanese pop culture festival, J-Pop to San Francisco's Japantown this year. The day-long event will be packed with fashion shows, food, films, music, design and art. When? Saturday, September 18 at 11am; Free. Japantown Peace Plaza, at Geary and Webster Streets. SF MOMA's "Now Playing" party SF MOMA invites musicians to turn the museum into a performance space during their "Now Playing" evening parties. This month brings the group MEN, starring JD Samson from Le Tigre. MEN will perform in the atrium alongside an installation by artist Celeste Dupuy. But that's not all: Blue Bottle coffee, along with local chefs and San Francisco's meat-themed magazine, Meatpaper, are teaming up to serve a tasting menu paired with wine and beer at the museum's rooftop sculpture garden. When? Thursday, September 16; Free with museum admission ($6 Thursday evenings after 6 pm). 151 Third Street, 415/ 357-4000.

It's that time of year. Across America, kids are heading back to school. And you know what that means. Right about now, millions of students are being asked, "What did you do on your summer vacation?" This question can be great if it gives you the opportunity to brag about a great trip to some far-flung destination, but less so when the farthest you traveled was a family reunion at your grandmother's condo the next town over. So how did you fare in 2010? Was it a good summer? If Labor Day weekend is any indication of how you traveled this season, many of you have reason to hold your heads high! As the economy continues to rebound, AAA released a report in late August estimating that numbers for the holiday weekend would be up across the board. According to the report, 34.4 million Americans traveled at least 50 miles from home, representing a 10% increase over the same weekend in 2009. Though over 90% of these travelers reached their destination by car, the airline industry was also predicted to see an increase of almost 5% over last summer. This summer, I managed a quick trip to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, one of America's Coolest Small Towns, where I met the friendliest people, indulged in the tastiest Mexican ice cream at La Michoacana, and sampled crunchy mushroom chips at the Mushroom Cap. Granted, I didn't get too far away from home, but the relaxing small town experience was a welcome retreat. So class, what did you do this summer vacation?

The Thames Festival London's biggest end of the summer party takes place on the 11th and 12th along the banks of the River Thames between Westminster and Tower Bridge. There are free concerts from the likes of fusion band Saravah Soul, a nighttime carnival, circuses, firework displays, markets and all manner of street performers. Free Heritage Open Days Between September 9th and 12th throughout England, historic buildings which are normally closed to the public throw open their doors to visitors. The city of London has also organized Open House London, with an additional list of open sites the following weekend (September 18-19). All in all, hundreds of wonderful buildings and tourists sights are open—for free—including the Bodleian Library in Oxford, great Masonic Temple in Covent Garden (where there is a huge painting of George Washington in full Masonic regalia), The Royal Society buildings in Westminster (where Newton and Priestley were members), and tourist attractions like the London Eye. Free The Great River Race The biggest annual race on the Thames takes place at 12:15 pm on September 25th, when river craft—everything from adapted bath tubs and Polynesian war canoes to svelte competition kayaks—gather in Ham in West London to race 21 miles to the Docklands in the East. It's far less exclusive than the more famous Oxford-vs-Cambridge boat race, but far more colorful—and if you can get hold of a boat you can even enter the race, instead of just watching it. Free The Clarence House Garden Party Between September 8th and 19th, Prince Charles throws an 11-day shindig in the gardens of his London Palace. It's to raise money for his favorite charities. Tickets are a snip at US$23—which includes privileged access to the royal lawns and flower beds, as well as a full program of entertainment. This year this includes music by Jools Holland, comedy by local stars Marcus Brigstocke and Hugh Dennis, and a fashion show by Vivienne Westwood. London Fashion Weekend A coterie of London and the world's top designers gather at Somerset House in the city center between September 23-26 to parade their latest wares on the catwalk and offer the hoi polloi the chance to buy their gowns and garb for 70% of the retail price. Designers who will be showing this year include John Galliano, Chloe, Mawi, Herve Leger, Vivienne Westwood, Beatrix Ong and Pyrus. Get tickets (from US$20) and more information here.

Good news for folks who consider their pets part of the family. The Mo's Nose app—based on a children's book series of the same name—is your go-to guide for pet-friendly travel. This GPS-enabled tool helps you sniff out everything from groomers, dog parks, and kennels to hotels that welcome canine guests. Does your pooch have a deep dark secret you can't wait to crack? Oddly enough, you can even search pet psychics across America. Released on August 19, this app is compatible with iPhones and iPod Touch and can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store. This week also saw the opening of Walt Disney World's Best Friends Pet Care, a 17,000-square-foot luxury pet resort. Just like their owners, pets can stay in a wide range of rooms, from the budget to the swanky. Accommodations start with 32-square-foot indoor rooms and move up to 226-square-foot Very Important Pet suites, which come equipped with televisions and private backyards. Amenities include a nature trail for relaxing walks with owners and a splash-around pool. The property welcomes more than just dogs—it boasts a Kitty City pavilion, as well as boarding areas for birds and small mammals. Hamsters love Mickey, too! As much as I loved my cat and rabbit growing up, vacation time was a human-only affair. All this talk of pet travel got me wondering: Do Americans really take their pets with them on vacation, or is this a niche market reserved for spoiled pageant dogs and cat ladies? Let us know—have you ever traveled with a pet? What kind of pet did you take? Where did you go? And did your dog watch television while you were there?