7 awesome Bay Area things to do this weekend, Jan. 12-14

Mid-January doldrums? Pish! We have all kinds of ways to find fun and deliciousness this weekend, from a killer detective show to awesome mocktails and sublime soups.

As always, be sure to double check event and venue websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

1 WATCH: ‘True Detective’ is back

And with the amazing Jodie Foster joining the cast for Season 4, it tops our roundup of great shows and movies you should totally watch this weekend.

2 COOK & EAT: Sublime soups for winter

Warmth and wonderfulness sure brighten up a gray winter day — and these 5 winter soups are just the trick.

3 PLAY & SNACK: Chompin’ at Chase

Headed to the Chase Center for a game or concert? These new items on the menu are a heck of a lot more interesting than the Warriors have been lately.

4 SEE & HEAR: Great shows are all over

From a pair of Latin jazz icons to some movie-star parrots, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend.

5 COOK & DEVOUR: Zesty Asian flair

You can add some real zing to dinner with this citrusy sesame-ginger-fueled steak and noodle dish.

6: SIP: A toast to booze-free deliciousness

Mocktails are all the rage these days, and you won’t believe how good they are at these 3 Bay Area bars.

7 HEAR: Marvelous music

Looking for an amazing playlist or two? Check out our picks for the 10 best albums of 2023 for possibilities.