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In Arts + Culture

All Ears, Arts Forecast, Dance, Examined Life, Lit, Movies, Nightlife, Onstage, Party Radar, Puff, Screen Grabs, Sports

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All Ears

New Music: Jay Som’s fever dream—from chopsticks and a trumpet

The Oakland-raised lo-fi bedroom indie sensation drops a new single before embarking on a world tour.

John-Paul Shiver - February 20, 2020

Movies

What we saw at Sundance, part 1: Wild rides and deep looks

Our annual trip to the fest turned up dreamy features, experimental masterworks, and a strikingly intelligent horror doc.

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks - February 19, 2020

All Ears

New Music: Andy Shauf’s ‘The Neon Skyline’ traces old flames in wee hours

Dive bars, woodwinds, and soft rock come together in the Canadian's tales of lonely hearts.

John-Paul Shiver - February 19, 2020

Screen Grabs

Screen Grabs: Raining Internet cats and live-action dogs

Call of the Wild, Cat Video Fest, gay Georgian dancers, Kamikaze Hearts, Wesley Snipes, Bllly Crystal, Liam Neeson, more movies.

Dennis Harvey - February 19, 2020

Art Looks

Electrifying art of Black Power in ‘Soul of a Nation’

De Young show features works from height of the Movement, including SF's Mike Henderson and the Rainbow Sign gallery.

Emily Wilson - February 18, 2020

All Ears

New Music: Afrikan Sciences takes an affecting electronic ‘Journey into Mr. Re’

The Deepblak label honcho's latest 13-track album alerts us to how art can cut through the noise.

John-Paul Shiver - February 18, 2020

Dance

Review: A dash of variety and joy in SF Ballet’s ‘Classical (Re)Vision’

This 'tasting flight of contemporary ballet' highlights the company's resilient, welcoming spirit.

Marke B. - February 14, 2020

Arts

Look! Up in the sky! It’s public art—with Premiere Jr.

A tiny billboard in the Inner Sunset becomes a curated space, and highlights SF's complex contemporary relationship with art.

Marke B. - February 6, 2020

Art Looks

‘A Gothic Tale’ plumbs Legion of Honor’s haunting depths

Emily Wilson - October 28, 2019

Mirrors, doubles, organ music, film noir, and the museum's archives comprise Alexandre Singh's creepy exhibit.

Arts

Memories of the Ulcer Department

Peter Lawrence Kane - October 18, 2019

'The San Quentin Project,' an inmate-centered photo exhibit at BAMPFA, complicates assumptions of life at CA’s oldest prison.

Arts

At 85, a revered glassblower inspired by SF’s ‘Radiance’

Emily Wilson - September 27, 2019

'Very few places in the world have this light,' says Lino Tagliapietra, whose latest work is at Montague Gallery.

Arts

Fall Arts Preview: 37 cool things to do this season

Marke B. - September 4, 2019

Flamenco to death metal, Comedy Day to Hip-Hop Fest, with dozens more great local arts, music, dance, and stage events.

Culture

Arts

Look! Up in the sky! It’s public art—with Premiere Jr.

A tiny billboard in the Inner Sunset becomes a curated space, and highlights SF's complex contemporary relationship with art.

Marke B. - February 6, 2020

Onstage

A pro-immigrant ‘sci-fi magical realism human cartoon opera’? Believe it!

Pantomime pioneer Sara Moore talks about refugees, clowns, and her new 'live silent film' at Z Space.

Joshua Rotter - February 12, 2020

Onstage

Springsteen meets surveillance state in ‘Born in East Berlin’

Emily Wilson - February 10, 2020

At SF Playhouse, playwright Rogelio Martinez explores the time the Boss played behind the Iron Curtain.

Onstage

You’ve never seen a ‘Gatsby’ like this

Emily Wilson - February 5, 2020

One entire classic book, six hours, rave reviews. Elevator Repair Service brings its Fitzgerald treatment to Berkeley Rep.

Onstage

Trixie Mattel’s grown-up dream world

Joshua Rotter - February 3, 2020

A house, a partner, a new album, and a gangbusters tour. Has the drag star left her Barbie life behind? No way!

Onstage

In ‘The Children,’ nuclear disaster, strange twists, and surprising humor

Emily Wilson - February 3, 2020

Director Barbara Damashek and star Anne Darragh talk about the 'astonishing' heart in Aurora Theatre's new eco-thriller.

Puff

Puff: ‘Tis the season for a holiday cannabis gift guide

Space Gems, African Queens, some much-needed Tranquili-Tea and more perfect stuffing stockers (and mood adjusters).

Dan Karkoska - December 12, 2019

Puff

Puff: Hall of Flowers highlights

Dan Karkoska - October 19, 2019

Huge expo in Santa Rosa showcased a panoply of new cannabis goods—including some cool surprises.

Puff

Puff: A stroll through the Grass Lands

Dan Karkoska - August 22, 2019

Behind the scenes at the first festival area to sell cannabis—and what that might mean for consumers and vendors.

Puff

Puff: Notes from a serious (and seriously interesting) cannabis expo

Dan Karkoska - August 2, 2019

The Cannabis Business Summit and Expo in San Jose showcased the industrial backend of the trade—plus Jim Belushi sang.

Puff

Puff: Light up, it’s Pride time

Dan Karkoska - June 24, 2019

A colorful clutch of cannabis goodies to help you float over the rainbow.

Screen Grabs

Screen Grabs: Raining Internet cats and live-action dogs

Call of the Wild, Cat Video Fest, gay Georgian dancers, Kamikaze Hearts, Wesley Snipes, Bllly Crystal, Liam Neeson, more movies.

Dennis Harvey - February 19, 2020

Arts + Culture

Screen Grabs: Get in the van!

Dennis Harvey - February 11, 2020

SF's Richard Wong directs Come As You Are. Plus: Downhill, The Lodge, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Kael + Botero docs, more movies

Screen Grabs

Screen Grabs: Forget those Oscars, let’s go to Berlin & beyond

Dennis Harvey - February 4, 2020

The beloved German film fest starts this week. Plus: The Traitor, Show of Shows, The Assistant, and more in cinemas.

Screen Grabs

Screen Grabs: Battle of the giant Russian oligarchs

Dennis Harvey - January 21, 2020

Plus: Nic Cage goes gonzo for HP Lovecraft, Lost Landscapes of San Francisco, The House by the Cemetery, more movies.

Screen Grabs

Screen Grabs: A very contemporary Les Misérables

Dennis Harvey - January 14, 2020

Plus: an incredible tale of 70,000 VHS tapes, the Village People's disco disaster, and more in cinemas this week.

Art Looks

Electrifying art of Black Power in ‘Soul of a Nation’

De Young show features works from height of the Movement, including SF's Mike Henderson and the Rainbow Sign gallery.

Emily Wilson - February 18, 2020

Arts

Look! Up in the sky! It’s public art—with Premiere Jr.

Marke B. - February 6, 2020

A tiny billboard in the Inner Sunset becomes a curated space, and highlights SF's complex contemporary relationship with art.

Art Looks

The joy of ‘Gayface’

Marke B. - January 16, 2020

With an ongoing series of portraits, photographer Lauren Tabak asks, how does queer visibility matter, here and now?

Art Looks

Cartooning the Japanese Internment, through George Takei’s eyes

Emily Wilson - January 13, 2020

In a book and show at the Cartoon Art Museum, illustrator Harmony Becker realizes a US tragedy in fine-grained detail.

Art Looks

A 24/7 switchboard connecting participants to ‘The Dead Woman’

Emily Wilson - January 8, 2020

In 'A morta,' Cinthia Marcelle fuses art, theater, and telecommunication—and yes, you can play at home.

Party Radar

Comedowns are for losers! New Year’s Day parties

Our annual list of after-after-parties proves the revelry never ceases San Francisco. (Drink some water!)

Marke B. - December 30, 2019

Party Radar

Party Radar: A monster mash of Halloween bashes

Marke B. - October 24, 2019

ESG, Doja Cat, The Magician, The Cockettes, Space Cowboys, Paul Oakenfold all make a witches' brew of real party howlers.

Party Radar

Party Radar: ULTIMATE PRIDE GUIDE 2019

Marke B. - June 23, 2019

Pink Block, Polka Dots, Hot Pants, Pullin' Pork, Fake & Gay, and more musts for this bonkers week.

Arts + Culture

Comedowns are for losers: New Year’s Day parties 2019

Marke B. - December 30, 2018

Don't flag out once the ball drops: From Love Hangover to Supper of Survivors, we've got your new year debauchery covered.

Party Radar

Party Radar: Sweet, sweet NYE

Marke B. - December 28, 2018

What are you doing New Year's Eve? THE MOST—with Peaches Christ, Braza!, Little Dragon, Femanyst, Shannon & the Clams, more.

Examined Life

Examined Life: A year to love for no reason

Looking back at the life of a great spiritual teacher opens the door to deeper meaning in the new year.

Karen Macklin - January 4, 2020

Examined Life

Examined Life: On shaky ground

Karen Macklin - April 16, 2019

In a city where everyone and everything is constantly changing, we have a lot to fear. But even more to learn.

Examined Life

When our bodies break down

Karen Macklin - February 21, 2019

On the dark journey through illness or injury, we meet a stranger we’ve known all along: our self.

Examined Life

Life is hard. Say yes to that.

Karen Macklin - December 7, 2018

As we move toward the end of the year, remember: Even when the options all seem bad, you can still make a good choice.

Examined Life

Examined Life: Power, patriarchy, and the imperfect guru

Karen Macklin - August 28, 2018

Buddhist teacher Noah Levine is dismissed from Against the Stream because of sexual misconduct. Now the organization is folding. Why does this song sound so familiar?

Arts Forecast

Arts Forecast: Welcome to the ‘Manifesto’

Plus: Pop-Up Magazine, The End of You, a double shot of Kronos, Fog City Magic Fest, Kafana Balkan, Moodymann, more.

Marke B. - February 3, 2020

Arts Forecast

Arts Forecast: A whole weekend with Laurie Anderson and more

Marke B. - January 22, 2020

Edwardian Ball, Movement Arts Festival, Lyrics Born, Mercury Soul, Pink Mammoth, and so much to do this weekend

Arts Forecast

Arts Forecast: Drag Queens on Ice, Burning Man: The Musical, more

Marke B. - December 4, 2019

Heiroglyphics, Krampus Pageant, Paranoid London, Sophie, Go Bang!, a couple great art walks, and more this week.

Arts Forecast

Arts Forecast: Hip-Hop (Dance Fest) hurray! + more

Marke B. - November 20, 2019

Agent Orange, Dolly Night, Bay Area Record Fest, Mr. Brightside Indie Ball, Frankie Night, Lil Louie Vega, and lots else to do.

Arts + Culture

Arts Forecast: And here’s the real kicker…

Marke B. - November 13, 2019

'Stomp' still stomps. Plus: Lavender Country, Cuban neon, Recombinant Fest, Patrick Cowley, a drag 'The Wall,' more.

Lit

Opinion: Octavia Butler’s mission is yours, too—should you choose to accept it

The visionary Afrofuturist author is hailed as a prophet of our times, but her life has deeper lessons.

Anand Jay Kalra - February 13, 2020

Arts + Culture

At Zinn Fair, Peter Cole explores SF’s unique history of labor and race

James Tracy - December 3, 2019

The historian documents the links between local dockworker actions and transnational racial justice movements.

Lit

Red-hot but clear-eyed, Flea recounts his youth in ‘Acid for the Children’

Joshua Rotter - November 4, 2019

Legendary bassist and actor recalls childhood, punk, and early Chili Peppers days—and ditches anger for forgiveness.

Lit

‘Disasterama!’ chronicles SF’s wild, lost queer underground

Marke B. - October 15, 2019

Alvin Orloff's new memoir documents crazy nights, retro-camp glamor, and punk sensibility in the face of the AIDS crisis.

Lit

At Litquake, the infamous Literary Death Match hits 500

Peter Lawrence Kane - October 7, 2019

The most aggressively silly, all-encompassing event of the festival returns to where it all started, the former Elbo Room.

All Ears

New Music: Jay Som’s fever dream—from chopsticks and a trumpet

The Oakland-raised lo-fi bedroom indie sensation drops a new single before embarking on a world tour.

John-Paul Shiver - February 20, 2020

All Ears

New Music: Andy Shauf’s ‘The Neon Skyline’ traces old flames in wee hours

John-Paul Shiver - February 19, 2020

Dive bars, woodwinds, and soft rock come together in the Canadian's tales of lonely hearts.

All Ears

New Music: Afrikan Sciences takes an affecting electronic ‘Journey into Mr. Re’

John-Paul Shiver - February 18, 2020

The Deepblak label honcho's latest 13-track album alerts us to how art can cut through the noise.

All Ears

New Music: Transcendental dancing with Eris Drew’s ‘Fluids of Emotion’

John-Paul Shiver - February 12, 2020

The Chicago artist delivers 'proto-rave ecstasy music' on new EP, looking to classic turntable techniques.

All Ears

As Afrobeat heroes Antibalas arrive, recalling a classic track

John-Paul Shiver - February 10, 2020

The Brooklyn band celebrates 20 years with a new album and three local shows. Their cross-cultural influence still runs deep.

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Chinatown building becomes battleground for community’s future

Tim Redmond - February 20, 2020

Investor with a record of trying to evict low-income seniors now wants to make massive profit off historic property.

News + Politics

Caltrans agrees to pay $2 million for destroying homeless people’s property

Sam Lew - February 19, 2020

Deal would also set new rules for sweeps on state lands.

Movies

What we saw at Sundance, part 1: Wild rides and deep looks

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks - February 19, 2020

Our annual trip to the fest turned up dreamy features, experimental masterworks, and a strikingly intelligent horror doc.

News + Politics

The politics of the race for SF judge

Tim Redmond - February 6, 2020

The Judicial Establishment has lined up behind three candidates. (Hint: None are public defenders.)

News + Politics

Interrupting racial profiling in San Francisco

Lisa Schiff - February 19, 2020

A volunteer group is trying to monitor social media and promote community education; here's how you can join.

News + Politics

What did Breed’s Nuru announcement really mean?

Tim Redmond - February 16, 2020

Sorting out the lingering questions about the mayor's connections to the disgraced public works director.

News + Politics

Moms 4 Housing spurs right-to-purchase law in Oakland

Sam Lew - January 30, 2020

City Council to consider bill that would give renters the right to buy their units to prevent speculators from flipping

All Ears

New Music: Jay Som’s fever dream—from chopsticks and a trumpet

John-Paul Shiver - February 20, 2020

The Oakland-raised lo-fi bedroom indie sensation drops a new single before embarking on a world tour.

Campaign Trail

‘Families first’ public defender enters D7 race

Tim Redmond - February 13, 2020

Vilaska Nguyen says he offers an independent alternative and criticizes mayor's planning policies.

Art Looks

Electrifying art of Black Power in ‘Soul of a Nation’

Emily Wilson - February 18, 2020

De Young show features works from height of the Movement, including SF's Mike Henderson and the Rainbow Sign gallery.

Best of the Bay Winners

Best of the Bay 2019

Best of the Bay 2019: Food & Drink winners

Best Burrito, Best Sushi, Best Brunch, Best Ice Cream, Best Bar Staff, and more

Staff - October 3, 2019

Best of the Bay 2019

Best of the Bay 2019: Shopping winners

Staff - October 3, 2019

Best Book Store, Best Grocery Store, Best Shoe Store, Best Bike Shop, Best Flea Market, Best Dispensary, and more

Best of the Bay 2019

Best of the Bay 2019: Arts & Entertainment winners

Staff - October 3, 2019

Best DJ, Best Live Music Venue, Best Arts Festival, Best Drag Show, Best Dance Company, and more

Best of the Bay 2019

Best of the Bay 2019: City Living winners

Staff - October 3, 2019

Best Street Fair, Best Yoga Studio, Best Bicycle Repair, Best Plumber, Best Pet Grooming, and more

Arts + Culture

Join us for our Best of the Bay holiday party this Thursday!

Marke B. - December 10, 2018

Music, entertainment, nibbles, bubbles, and the Best of the Bay!

In Arts + Culture

Arts

Culture

Onstage

Puff

Screen Grabs

Art Looks

Party Radar

Examined Life

Arts Forecast

Lit

All Ears

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