GENERAL ARTS
Marke B. keeps an eye and ear and everything else out.
THROUGH SUN/4: NEXUS BLACK ART WEEK The Museum of the African Diaspora pulls out all the stops for this action-packed week, that includes tons of exhibitions, open studios, events, programs, and immersive experiences celebrating the impact of Black art and culture throughout the Bay Area. Encounter dozens of awesome Black artists throughout the Bay Area—don’t worry there’s ace food recs, too. More info here.
FRI/2-SUN/4: HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS The massive free festival is an exemplary civic gift—millionaire Warren Hellman made sure his love of bluegrass music was enshrined as an annual festival. And boy, has that gift grown, now touching almost every genre, and bringing in performers like this year’s Hot Tuna, My Morning Jacket, Mavis Staples, Los Lobos, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Emmylou Harris, and Steve Earle & the Hardly Strictly Dukes. It’s a lovely time with music in the sunshine. Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, SF. More info here.
FRI/2-SUN/4: 1890 BRYANT OPEN STUDIOS SF Open Studios is in full swing this month, and this weekend you get to peek inside the inner workings of one of my favorite artist hubs—and a former mayonnaise factory! “The 1890 Bryant building hosts three floors of artist studios featuring seasoned artists and makers whose work has been awarded and exhibited around the world, and a dynamic community of emerging newcomers.” Go get some art made by humans, while you still can. 1890 Bryant, SF. More info here.
SAT/3: MAHMOUD KHALIL In March 2025, federal immigration agents arrested Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and prominent participant in the Palestine solidarity movement at Columbia University. He was held in immigration detention for 104 days while the federal government sought to deport him. His new book No Land to Stand On: Notes from Detention documents his struggle—he’ll be signing books and speaking on his personal story, his ongoing legal battles, and how movements can resist political repression while continuing to organize for justice. 12:30pm-3pm, First Congregational church, Oakland. More info here.
SAT/3-DECEMBER 17: THE AO SERIES PT. 3—EDY CAHUEQUE & MABEL VALDIVIEZO With the AO (Artists’ Ouevres) series, Galería de la Raza has worked to award more than a dozen artists artists with $250K in grants over the past two years. That commitment includes displaying these exciting artists’ work, of course! Edy Cahueque and Mabel Valdiviezo present their projects Un Dia A La Vez and A Sense of Belonging, respectively, where they push their practice by employing mixed media techniques to explore immigrant narratives and belonging bringing visibility to often overlooked communities in San Francisco. Opening party Sat/3, 7pm-10pm,. Galería de la Raza, SF. More info here.
SUN/4: 52ND ANNUAL CASTRO STREET FAIR It never really feels like fall until the fabulous neighborhood affair, brimming with music, art, drag queens, and more than a little cruising mixed with civic engagement (it was started by Harvey Milk, after all). The highlight for me has always been the Sundance Saloon stage, where you can watch cowperson hat-wearing hoofers twirl and stomp to popular country and pop hits. Castro Street between 16th and 19th Streets. More info here.
SUN/4: EL MOVIMIENTO NOS UNE/MOVEMENT UNITES US Dance powerhouse ODC celebrates Latino Heritage Month with a free showcase of fantastic moves. Curated by Monica Ascencio, the event celebrates culture, music, dance, and community across generations. Catch amazing teachers Cheo Gomez (Afro Colombian) and Cassandra Villasenor (Bachata), plus percussion with Josue Santos. 4pm-8pm, ODC, SF. More info here.
SUN/4: YASMIN LEVY Known worldwide for her unique interpretation of Ladino, the ancient Judeo-Spanish language, Levy brings centuries-old songs into the present, blending Sephardic tradition with flamenco, tango, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, and a contemporary sound that speaks directly to the heart. 8pm-10pm, Palace of Fine Arts, SF. More info here.
MUSIC
Hit up John-Paul Shiver’s Under the Stars column for great tunes and shows every week.
THU/1: MARIKA CHRISTINE That’s right. If you listen closely, you will hear the tsunami of diverse voices forever emanating from the numerous creatives who still choose to make San Francisco their home and inventive launchpad. Next up is Marika Christine, who’s already appeared in a myriad of SF collectives—Mild Universe being one of them—but is now stepping out. Self-described as “inspired by the power of tenderness,” Marika’s music strikes a chord for capricious journeys, switching up its Laurel Canyon-ness by dipping into psychedelic rock. It’s playful without being cutesy. Catch another Bay-Area wonder at The Chapel as Christine opens in support of Soda Blonde. 7pm, The Chapel, SF. More info here.
THU/1: AN EVENING HONORING STEVE EARLE Kicks off the weekend on Thursday with a coming together to celebrate Earle’s indentation on the American songbook at The Masonic with Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Molly Tuttle, and more. coming together to celebrate Earle’s life and work. A protege of the eternal songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, plus an actor who appeared in episodes of the HBO series The Wire and Tremé, Earle’s star-studded concert, honoring his five-decade career on Thursday night, will be one of many stellar evenings during Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, where fans and peers shall have the opportunity to connect with his stalwart heritage. 7pm, The Masonic, SF. More info here.
FOOD & DRINK
Tamara Palmer’s weekly Good Taste column tells you where to stick your fork.
PICK PLOCK! Attention sugar fiends: there’s a new pick and mix candy shop called Plock Swedish Candy from Louise Norman, who recently moved here from Sweden (plock means pick in Swedish). Pick a bag or a movie-sized popcorn bucket to fill; treats are available by the pound. The store has got all kinds of things this fiend has never seen, even compared to the well-curated Lil Sweet Treat, a similar concept from NYC that opened crawling distance away in June. My current Plock favorite is the lemon lime slice, which you can deconstruct in your mouth, but don’t sleep on the chocolate banana marshmallows, jelly skulls, or round lemon colas. 3101 Fillmore Street, SF. plockcandy.com
STAGE
Charles Lewis III checks out theaters and performance spaces every week in the Drama Masks column.
FRI/2 THROUGH SAT/17: AWESOME THEATER PRESENTS THE CRYPT-O-KEEPERS Don’t let the unseasonably-warm weather fool you: the spooky season is upon us once again. Genre-loving indie theatre troupe Awesome Theater are here to welcome the season in style with their latest work. Think of every time you’ve felt like an office meeting went on forever or whenever you felt your co-workers were absolute monsters. Playwright Alanna McFall makes this idea literal in her new play, The Crypt-O-Keepers.An office comedy mixed with bone-chilling horror is the reality of most jobs in San Francisco. Now’s your chance to see it happen to people who aren’t you. Begins Friday, October 2nd at Eclectic Box, SF. Further information here.
FRI/2 THROUGH NOV/8: TERROR VAULT PRESENTS SLASHED: RETURN TO HELLVILLE Peaches Christ’s alter-ego Joshua Grannell once again commandeers the old SF Mint for a walk-through tale of terror. This time, the story is a take-off on the teen-killing slasher flicks that monopolized every multiplex and video store in the ’80s. There will be masked killers, cheerleaders, several kitchen knives, and maybe even a lucky final girl to tell the tale. Plus, admission to the show gets you access to the onsite vampire bar, Fang Bang. So, grab a bunch of your high school buddies and head off into that cabin for some creepy, queer-coded fun. What’s the worst that could happen? Begins Friday, October 2nd at the SF Mint. Further information here.
FILM
Dennis Harvey’s long-running Screen Grabs has tons more flicks to recommend.
OPENING FRI/2 AT THE ROXIE: DON’T PLAY WITH FIRE Prolific Hong Kong director, writer, and producer Tsui Hark was just starting out in the industry—after a late-1970s US stint—when he made this memorable 1980 third feature. It finds three nerdy teenaged schoolboys already up to some prankish mischief when they attract the attention of Wan-chu (Lin Chen-chi), a much more formidably malevolent, sociopathic peer. She goads/blackmails them into increasingly reckless actions that only grow more catastrophic when their hijinks cross the paths of organized crime syndicates, gangs, and arms-trafficking American Vietnam War vets. Almost all these people would just as soon kill as look at you, generating an astronomical body count by the thoroughly nihilistic fadeout. As energetic and visually inventive as it is cartoonishly “dark,” this mashup of crime drama, action, horror, and black comedy will flabber your gast. Roxie Theater, SF. More info here.
NIGHTLIFE
Marke B. usually knows what’s up.
FRI/2: STARDELLA WITH PROSUMER A resident at Berlin’s renowned Panoramabar and a local favorite, Prosumer returns to the lovely Stardella party with his signature deep mix of Chicago house, Detroit techno, and eclectic European grooves, with support from CarrieOnDisco, DJ M3, and Chuck Gunn. Fri/2, Monarch, SF. More info here.
SAT/3: PINKWASH FOR THE DOLLS: THE COMRADES DANCE PARTY & TRANS MUTUAL AID Get up and dance to too-cute DJs The Baptist, mr_m4cr0, itstongolele, and mamaganuush while helping trans people in need. “This Pinkwash is centering Trans mutual aids from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Ohlone Lands (SF Bay Area), and local trans in need. Our net profits and money raised will go toward our trans and Palestinian community aid.” 4pm-8pm, El Rio, SF. More info here.
SUN/4: OCTO OCTA How about a little day rave after the Castro Street Fair? Turntable genius Octo Octa is touching down for an evening to help anyone burn off some extra calories after all that street beer and chicken on a stick. She’ll have a wealth of delectable tracks in tow to reset you for the week. 6pm-10pm, Castro Theater, SF. More info here.
