Where and How to Watch the Bay Lights

The Bay Bridge takes on a bright new aspect Tuesday night, March 5, when one of the world's largest light sculptures clicks on at 9 p.m.

The lights decorate only the western span of the bridge—that's the part connecting Treasure Island to San Francisco—so the best viewing points are along the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Twin Peaks in San Francisco and various spots along the Sausalito waterfront also offer possibilities.

Don't count on a restaurant window; many eateries with a view are already booked for the big night.

You can get some ideas of where to spread your blanket from this map.

If you don't feel like being outdoors around then, you can watch the webcast at 8:30 p.m.

Or if you are busy at that time and just want to pretend like you saw it, you can watch what the artist, Leo Villareal, thinks the show will look like right now.

Then there's this video of a dress rehearsal.

Working with CalTrans crews, Villareal has hung 25,000 LED lights on the cables on the north side of the bridge.

The project cost $8 million to create and will burn $11,000 in energy over the next two years. But Villareal says it will pay off in stimulating San Francisco's economy.