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Music Review

Review: The Breeders—and Castro Theatre—head into a new era

'90s indie heroes the Deal Sisters & co. rocked the 104-year-old venue—and the Gen X/Z mosh pit sparked some thoughts.
John-Paul Shiver -
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Best of the Bay

Best of the Bay 2026 Editors’ Pick: Illusionist Kevin Blake

The master prestidigitator has performed his wry sleight-of-hand show 500-plus times at The Palace Theater.
Jon Bauer and Patty Riek -
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Culture

Fall Festivals Preview: 10 fab fairs and fests to light up the season

Diwali jams, food raves, science celebrations, and the last of this year’s county fairs. Oh, and Godzilla.
Tamara Palmer -
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Food & Drink

Fall Food Preview: Fresh openings, classic comebacks, big mall glow-ups

Reasons to Rize Up, Meat Packers with buns, My Friend Fernando sets down roots, more steaming news and rumors
Tamara Palmer -
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Movies

Fall Film Preview: Flicks you can’t miss, from starry fests to hot local docs

Revived werewolves, Golden Gate Park trauma, a bitter Christmas, a social reckoning—and, of course, 'Bears in Hot Tubs'
Dennis Harvey -
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Culture

Cruising Chinatown: Classic car parade vroomed up community pride

Lion dancers and eight-year-old McLaren enthusiasts converged under the lanterns.
Emma Garcia -
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Best of the Bay

Best of the Bay 2026 Editors’ Pick: Alysa’s Gold from Fentons Creamery

Triumphant Olympian Alysa Liu receives the sweetest tribute: her very own flavor at the beloved 132-year-old Oakland staple.
Lucia Verzola -
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Stage Review

Drama Masks: Killing My Lobster sinks its claws into ‘Hysterical Historium’

The saucy veteran sketch troupe finally returns with a full-on Gold Rush era-set show—and kids in the audience?
Charles Lewis III -
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Music

Under the Stars: abracadabra summons spiky ’80s downtown funk magic

Plus: Daniel Villareal's dope jazz vibes, Thee Sinseers' sweet time portal, and an ode to the beloved Phone Booth
John-Paul Shiver -
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Onstage

Fall Stage Preview: Grab a seat (or run for your life) at these 11 great local productions

Margaret Cho's punch-up, an immersive slasher, giant alien puppets, a bridge-spanning 'Lear,' a burlesque bonanza, much more
Charles Lewis III -
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Art

Fall Art Preview: 8 gallery and museum shows you simply must see

Sandow Birk's carceral Californian landscapes, Nexus Black Art Week's stunning breadth, Ha Chong-Hyun's singular style...
Emily Wilson -
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Music

Fall Music Preview: 10 concerts to ring in autumn ears

Martin Luther McCoy, Kofy Brown, Jack White, Erykah Badu and The Alchemist—Bay 'summer' is back.
John-Paul Shiver -
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Movies

Screen Grabs: Has the cinematic fantastical become banal?

Sci-fi overload in 'Hope.' Plus: A lost Joan Crawford, 'Twin Peaks' marathon, unnerving 'Militia,' topless 'Gandahar,' more big screen thrills
Dennis Harvey -
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Music

35 years in, Bratmobile revs up the power of riot grrrl

Drummer Molly Neuman on the draw of the underground scene, zines versus social media, and playing Bottom of the Hill before it closes.
Angelique Persails and Joshua Rotter -
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Music

The best Bay Area rap albums of 2026 (so far)

Trunk Boiz' epic return, Larry June's smooth cruising, an Avengers-style rap supergroup: Local hip-hop remains unstoppable.
Alan Chazaro -
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Stage Review

Drama Masks: A message of trans power delivered with operatic oomph

As SF Opera aims to cut its workers' pay, Opera Parallèle celebrated resistance with 'Revolution is Just the Beginning.'
Charles Lewis III -
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Art

Luis E. Garcia’s paintings weave a vital connection to his Pipil roots

A CCSF class in Mesoamerican art history opened his eyes to Indigenous cultures, and sparked his own journey.
Mary Corbin -
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Big Week

BIG WEEK: Zinefest, Bizerkley, Hiero Day, Free Shakespeare, BART Speedrun…

'Frankenstein' goes heavy metal, Samara Joy, Bikini Kill, English Beat, 'Buddy,' Bloghaus, Ensambles Ballet Folklórico, more to do!
Marke B. -
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Best of the Bay

Best of the Bay 2026 Editors’ Pick: Theatre Bay Area

50-year-old arts org helps the local show scene survive and stay accessible—especially with Bay Area Theatre Week.
Lou Fancher -
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Movies

Ficks’ Picks guide to CROSSROADS fest’s eerie experiments, fresh local voices

SF Cinematheque's annual avant-garde bonanza is haunted by graveyard perversions, pole dance ruminations, spooky homes.
Jesse Hawthorne Ficks -
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Music

Free jams and ‘Forever Grateful’ with Grahame Lesh & Friends

With a musical blast, the Grateful Dead scion opens part two of a sprawling exhibit dedicated to the band's memory.
Joshua Rotter -
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Best of the Bay

Best of the Bay 2026 Editors’ Picks: Flower Piano

Planted among the gorgeous blooms of the Botanical Gardens, a dozen pianos tune players and listeners into instant community.
Lou Fancher -
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Culture

Viz Valley DIY joint Bric-A-Brac blends peculiar creations with punk attitude

Now a year old, the arts space hosts underground bands, esoteric films, synth workshops, and 'a bunch of bullshit thrown together.'
Dhruv Baronia -
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Music

Under the Stars: Sour Widows are back—and ‘crafted to curve’

Plus: Bad Brains bassist goes jazz, Space Ghost coasts the cosmos, Doohickey Cubicle get downtown, more you must hear
John-Paul Shiver -
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Best of the Bay

VOTE NOW in our 2026 Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll!

From Best Burrito to Best Drag Show: Tell us what you love, in our 52nd annual celebration of the Best Place on Earth.
Marke B. -
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Music Review

Was this 40-year clutch of shaggy queer tracks the real album of the summer?

Move over, Madonna: Scaling the critical hype around Nirosta Steel's sprawling, droll 'My Skyscraper'
Daniel Bromfield -
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Movies

Screen Grabs: The making of a spectacular Hollywood horror disaster

Plus: A feast of cinematic demonics, from 'Creature from the Black Lagoon" (in 3D!) to endlessly crying babies and fuzzy orange unicorns.
Dennis Harvey -
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Music Review

Herbie Hancock, live at 86: The legend still has the Lion’s dialogue

At Davies Symphony Hall, one of the 20th Century's last living jazz masters grooved full-tilt with an all-star band.
John-Paul Shiver -
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Music

‘We’re gonna smash!’ Multi-sensory videogame tournament + live band pushed all the buttons

Lower Haight community hub The Faight leveled up with a jazzy 'Super Smash Bros.' extravaganza.
Jess Oledan -
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Food & Drink

Good Taste: My McDonald’s-free decade started with a local special

Beyond the ethical morass and public nuisance complaints, messing with a sacred treat was the Golden Arches' final straw.
Tamara Palmer -
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Art

Maren Hassinger’s evocative BAMPFA retrospective reaches up, up, up

From coiled hemp rope to wall of eye-popping pink plastic, the artist's community, colors, and contrasts are a buoying force.
Lou Fancher -
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Stage Review

Drama Masks: A drag disaster to die for

Farewell, Dolly Parton. And hello 'Disastrous!'—D'Arcy Drollinger's latest uproarious sendup of '70s genre flicks.
Charles Lewis III -
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Big Week

BIG WEEK: Tori Amos, Scumdance Film Fest, ‘Hairspray,’ Black House Radio, Dick Day…

Annual Freight Fiddle Summit, Greyboy Allstars, Egg Pals, Down Dirty Drinks, Connie, more to do!
Marke B. -
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Movies

Screen Grabs: Meep meep! ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ finally crashes into theaters

Refreshingly old-fashioned but mixed-bag 'The Deb,' hard-hitting 'American Doctor,' hilarious 'Idiots,' Nippon sex cinema returns, more
Dennis Harvey -
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Music

Live Shots: Salt Lake’s Krooked Kings find indie adoration

At The Independent, the five-piece communed with fans on 'In Another Life' tour.
D.A. Mission -
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Remembrance

RIP, Dolly: Read our 2011 interview about drag queens, dance floors, honky tonk preaching

“I couldn’t really get much gaudier—unless maybe I walked out with a beaver on my head!” We'll miss you, Country Queen.
Marke B. -
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Music

Under the Stars: Jeff Parker & co. stepped into Berkeley with spectral, slippery riffs

Plus: Alice Coltrane tapes—once heard only by ashram members—to take flight, and producer Carré serves dubby late-summer heat.
John-Paul Shiver -
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Movies

‘American Doctor’: Racing against death and dehumanization in Gaza

Poh Si Teng's doc follows three medics—Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastrian—and the threats they face during Israel's bombardment.
Pam Grady -
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Live Shots

Live Shots: Prestidigitation, ichthyomancy, and more legerdemain at ‘Secret Magic’

Yes, there was even a fortune-telling fish at this intimate lollapalooza of sorcery at Palace Theater.
Jon Bauer and Patty Riek -
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Lit

Deep lessons from art and life in Dave Eggers’ ‘Contrapposto’

Local literary hero and trained artist's latest novel dives into a wide-ranging love story that shows a more mature side.
Lou Fancher -
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