Welcome to Big Week, our weekly guide to cool things to do, put together by our expert critics and writers. Don’t forget it’s Bay to Breakers in SF this Sunday, so either train or leave accordingly.
GENERAL ARTS
Marke B. is on it, mostly.
THU/14-SUN/17: OAKLASH FESTIVAL An extravagant blast of positive and community-oriented drag energy, in this economy? Heck yeah. From a “used clown emporium” to a ginormous block party full of more sky-high wigs than you can shake a stick at, this nine-year-old Oakland endeavor, founded by Mama Celeste and Beatrix LaHaine, has grown more terrific, and important, as history has regressed. Get out and dance, nibble, drink, learn, tease, and of course tip! More info here.
SAT/16: BRIDGE STUDIO COLLECTIVE OPEN STUDIOS The 12 artists who work at this lively space have been concocting some special goodies for this daylong venture into their studios. This is the perfect moment to support some neat local people while also (my favorite thing) snooping around their building. 10am-6pm, Bridge Studios, SF. More info here.
SAT/16: WENDY REID’S AMBIENT BIRD-OHLONE PARK 2026 This site-specific, 52-minute, interspecies sonic landscape by local composer and violinist Wendy Reid “reflects an ecocentric philosophy of connecting all living creatures and the environment.” Her companion African Grey parrot Lulu is part of the large ensemble of musicians (trombone, saxophone, flute, tuba, long tube, “skatchbirds”), working with the ambient sounds of the park itself, especially its birds, of course. 7:30pm, Ohlone Park, Berkeley. More info here.
SUN/17: FOGO NA ROUPA CARNAVAL PARADE REHEARSAL That beautifully raucous celebration of local pan-Latin culture, Carnaval, is coming up May 23 and 24, and this is a lovely chance to see one of its best groups, Fogo na Roupa in a practice session for the big event. Fogo, crowned “Grand Champions of Carnaval,” bring the blazing sounds of the “Bateria”—the ensemble consisting of traditional Brazilian parade drums—along with colorful choreography and dancers. It’s also a great excuse for a picnic in the Presidio. 2pm-5pm, Presidio, SF. More info here.
SUN/17: CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR JOE KUKURA The eccentric writer, dresser, and bon vivant was a heart of the arts and nightlife community; his longtime journalism and advocacy boosted an untold number of local orgs and events. He was also just cool to have around; since he passed suddenly in March, SF has been a dimmer place. Friends have organized a BYOB potluck with live music from Fan Fiction and Pepper Vines in his honor. Here’s to Joe. 2pm-sundown, New Farm, SF. More info here.
WED/20: ROXIE MIXTAPE: SIDE A You rarely hear of it (unless you read us) but the Bay Area has a very lively indie filmmaker and animator scene. This “ongoing series celebrating diverse and engaging short works” is a fab way to sample several of these artists’ work, from Luis Bel Cardoso’s stop-motion “Sopinha” and Elie M. Khadra’s abstract visual poem “The Nature of the World” to Nathan Aurellano’s touching “Missing Boy” and Tyler McPherron in-depth, impressionistic profile of sculptor Woody De Othello. Roxie Mixtape is part of Bay Visions, a series dedicated to spotlighting Bay Area cinema’s past, present, and future—and worth your time. 6pm, Roxie Theater, SF. More info here.
WED/20: BAVC MEDIA 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Speaking of film, groundbreaking and eye-opening nonprofit Bay Area Video Coalition is celebrating 50 years of making the tools of film production available to all. The little nonprofit has turned out talents that have gone on to win Emmys, Oscar noms, and numerous awards at independent festivals across the globe. But I’ll always think of it as the cool little place that smells like videotape. This party will help raise fund for the future, and will be full of festive guests. 5pm-9pm, SOMArts, SF. More info here.
MUSIC
Hit up John-Paul Shiver’s Under the Stars column for great tunes and shows every week.
FRI/15: LA DOÑA San Francisco native Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea, aka La Doña, has become an avatar for the entire Bay Area. She is a student, teacher, and preservationist of Latinx traditional arts like corrido, bolero, cumbia, and mariachi, plus she embodies an all-around stone-cold Latina-feminist vibe. Give her the key to the city, already. Plus, she’s a personal favorite of President Barack Obama…. I’m just saying, Mayor Lurie. Just saying. La Doña will be performing songs from her new album, Corrientes, recorded in part at Women’s Audio Mission, the only professional recording studios in the world built and run entirely by women and gender-expansive individuals. The experimental synth-pop duo Buscabulla, identified in Rolling Stone as one of “10 Artists You Need to Know,” will be performing in support. 7pm, UC Theater, Berkeley. More info here.
SAT/16: DJ YUKA YU AT OAKLASH BLOCK PARTY You really want to “turn all the way up”? Here we go. The filmmaker, sound artist, DJ, and producer originally from Taipei will be performing at the Party Stage at Oaklash Block Party, part of the Oalash Festival, this coming Saturday. While the event will have you feeling energized from the start, if you have Boost Juice left by 6pm, be sure to stop by to see Yu set it off with her sets that sometimes feature samples from traditional Asian music. Listen, the Oaklash Block Party is a full deal: 60 performers, 50 food and art vendors, 7 DJs, 4 blocks, 2 stages, and thousands of queer and trans people living their fantasy. Stay hydrated, peeps. 1pm-8pm, Old Oakland. More info here.
FOOD & DRINK
Tamara Palmer’s weekly Good Taste column tells you where to stick your fork. Sign up for the Good Taste newsletter here.
SIDE QUEST TO THE NEW KUKJE BAKERY Savvy grocery shoppers who don’t want to deal with the crowds at H Mart choose to savor their time at Kukje Supermarket in Daly City, which has been open since 2002. Now, the neighboring shopping center is home to the long-awaited Kukje Bakery, a huge treat that will enhance all future grocery shopping trips. The grocery store’s Instagram account suggests that selections will change at a whim, with an attitude of experimentation. There’s a cake case that looks incredible and includes a sweet potato iteration with chips on top. Tasting highlights from my first visit were found inside a pair of buns: a savory one with sausage, tomato, and cheese and a sweet, tiramisu-esque mocha one. I wouldn’t get the suggestively shaped and cloyingly sweet strawberry donut again, but I would double up on my salt bread order. There are grab-and-go options as well as a counter full of goodies behind glass for pointing to and purchasing. Just don’t expect gluten-free goods or fancy coffee drinks; it’s more of a place for a basic cup with self-service milk. I appreciate that Kukje Bakery has Daly City prices rather than San Francisco ones. 2350 Junipero Serra Blvd, Daly City. More info here.
STAGE
Charles Lewis III checks out theaters and performance spaces every week in the Drama Masks column.
THROUGH MAY 24: HELL’S KITCHEN This Alicia Keys jukebox musical is a none-too-subtle roman à clef about bi-racial HK resident Ali (Maya Drake) living with her overly-protective white mother (Kennedy Caughell), falling under the tutelage of a gifted pianist (Roz White), and meeting all manner of colorful characters in the infamous NYC borough. Keys’ songs are as entertaining as ever, awkwardly jammed into Kristoffer Diaz’s “totally not trying to be In the Heights” script. Said script aims earnestly to render all of its characters angelic, which makes them not quite real. If HK had a tourism board, this musical would be their calling card. But the cast are all excellent singers with show-stopping moments, and if you’re looking for a colorful evening of Alicia Keys karaoke, this is for you. Orpheum Theatre, SF. More info here.
SAT/16: KILLING MY LOBSTER: “SKETCH ON SPEED” One of our favorite recurring shows from one of our favorite local troupes, this is improv on virtual (we think) amphetamines: “Over the course of 12 hours, we are forcing our writers and actors to produce an entire show—potentially blending sketch comedy, improv, crowd work, or maybe even pranks on our performers? We can’t know for sure, but no matter what, before that timer is up, it’ll be performed for a live audience.” 9pm, Z Below, SF. More info here.
FILM
Dennis Harvey’s long-running Screen Grabs has tons more flicks to recommend.
OPENING FRI/15: SILENT FRIEND is a very literary conceit in which the titular entity is a 300-year old ginko tree sitting on the grounds of the 500-year-old university in Marlburg, Germany. It is a mute witness to three successive human dramas: In 1908, aspiring botanist Grete becomes the school’s first-ever female student, though her presence is greeted with little save sexist humiliations and scorn by both peers and staff. In 1972, farm-raised Hannes finds himself out of step with hippie-ish classmates. His outsider status is not at all clarified by the on/off attentions of free-spirited Gundula, who’s conducting a whimsical-sounding study of whether plants “think” and “feel.” In our own time, Hong Kong-based neurologist Dr. Wong comes here to complete a research project, only to become trapped by the COVID epidemic—which leaves him quarantined on campus with a surly native groundskeeper. This handsome, contemplative piece is engaging in its individual narrative panels, which Hungarian writer-director Ildiko Enyedi cuts between with increasing rapidity as its 147 minutes proceed. Roxie Theater, SF. More info here.
NIGHTLIFE
Marke B. usually knows what’s up.
THU/14-SUN/16: PARAMETER FESTIVAL Actual, real, interesting, thoughtful, and adventurous techno has been MIA of late in our dear mayor’s rapacious party plans for the city, from block festivals to free park takeovers, let alone giant warehouse parties put on by promotional giants. (One great exception was legend Joey Beltram playing Union Square for free last weekend, more of that please.) Nothing wrong with good ol’ party music, but can we get some deep wizardry? This sprawling four-day, three-venue blast form the Parameter crew, integrating some great locals—another recent party oversight—offers perhaps a roadmap to a better techno future, filling the cavernous SVN West until 6am on Friday and Saturday with wowzers like Voices from the Lake, Andy Stott, Ciel, Objekt, Dopplereffekt, Tim Hecker, Polygonia, Octo Octa, and dozens of others. Come for the big international names, and also come for the fantastic locals like Kudeki, Torsion, CZ, and Public Works takeover by the brilliant Bay Area Endzeit x Berlin Samurai Music crews. It’s on, baby. More info here.
FRI/15: 17TH ANNUAL WORLD GOTH DAY WITH PICTUREPLANE Who better to issue in a dark celebration of World Goth Day than one of witch house’s main perpetuants, Pictureplane—he coined the “witch house” term as a joke in 2009—whose digital occult sound took the goth spirit into new dimensions, and a new century. He’s at the Cat Club’s long-running Dancing Ghost party for the 17th iteration of the annual homage, which happens to fall around the birthdays of Sisters of Mercy’s Andrew Eldritch and Siouxsie Sioux, so you will get plenty of them! 9:30pm-2:30am, Cat Club, SF. More info here.
SAT/16: REVOLUTIONS: STAXX OF WAX FEATURING DJ SAID Fatsouls label head and gob-smacking deep house/Afrobeats DJ Said is so beloved around here that he might as well be 48 Hills’ unofficial DJ. This is a perfect chance to catch him in a sweetly intimate setting, upstairs in the Monarch lounge as a guest of another of our fave-raves, Duserock, for his Revolutions: Staxx of Wax night. Sweet. 9pm, Monarch, SF. More info here.
