By Jerucifer, Arts & Events Editor

If you, like me, were emo in the early 2000s, OUR TIME HAS COME. Emo Prom is here! Time to bust out the eyeliner and fingerless gloves! Plus lots of ways to celebrate your mom (or a mother figure) and show them how much you appreciate them. Here’s what I’m most excited about for the week of 5/9..

This Week’s Events

Tuesday, 5/9

John Waters in conversation with Aubrey Plaza
5/9 | Sydney Goldstein Theatre | 275 Hayes St, SF | 7:30 pm | $49+

Liarmouth: a feel-bad romance by John Waters is being released on paperback. Aubrey Plaza will be interviewing him in San Francisco.

“If you go home with somebody and they don’t have books, don’t f**k them.”—John Waters

Small Business Pop-up Shop
5/9 | City Hall | 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, SF | 11 am | free

Take in the splendor of City Hall while shopping for your friends, family and yourself! The annual Small Business Week City Hall pop-up shop is a great place to find a gift for Mother’s Day, the graduate, a special gift, or a tasty treat. This event is part of Shop Dine SF, a campaign for San Franciscans to spend shopping dollars in a City called home.

Grade 2, Slaughterhouse, Crazy & the Brains
5/9 | Bottom of the Hill | 1233 17th St, SF | 7:30 pm | $16-18

Grade 2 – oi! punk
Slaughterhouse – gothy punk rock
Crazy & the Brains – indie punk rock

Inspire Oakland 2023
5/9 | Bridge Good | 55 Harrison St, Oakland | 12 pm | free

14th Annual Inspire Oakland Design Challenge Top 20 Student Presentations and first-ever Art Mart! Discover original designs, meet and greet with12 local art vendors, and hear from keynote speaker, Co-Founder and Executive Director Shaun Tai. Event is free and open to all community members.

Wednesday, 5/10

Small Business Boogie
5/10 | Ferry Building | 1 Ferry Marketplace, SF | 5 pm | free

Come boogie on down for the May edition of the Small Business Boogie! This month we visit The Ferry Building for Small Business Week. Get to meet the owners of each business and if you make it from start to finish, you’ll be entered into a raffle with a chance to win a gift certificate from each of the participating businesses. All participants over the age of 21 will receive a drink ticket for a free drink at select vendors, and for the first time ever, we will have a costume contest for best disco outfit!

DocLands Documentary Film Festival

5/10 | Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center | 1118 4th St, San Rafael | 12 pm | $8-17

Presented by the California Film Institute, DocLands Documentary Film Festival brings compelling stories and the provocative insights behind them to Marin County, California. Expanding upon the exchange of ideas and inspiration through public screenings and engaged conversations, DocLands aims to bring diverse communities together for dialogue and build an active, inclusive, and fully supportive community around documentary film. Dedicated to initiating connections and partnerships that will illuminate and invigorate the business and art of non-fiction filmmakers. The Festival runs from May 10th through May 14th.

The Wailers w/ DJ Sep
5/10 | The Chapel | 777 Valencia St, SF | 8 pm | $38-42

Not many bands can claim genuine legend status. The Wailers comfortably claim their place in essential music history. Their music was, and is, culture-defining: rebel hearts with brave souls embodying the spirit of 70s era-defining reggae.

DJ Sep is a long-time San Francisco Bay Area DJ and producer, and the founder of Dub Mission, one of the longest-running reggae clubs in the world (1996-2019). She spins dub, reggae, dancehall, Jungle/DnB, Afrobeats, and more.

CHARLIE WINSTON: As I Am
5/10 | Rickshaw Stop | 155 Fell St, SF | 8 pm | $20-25

Charlie Winston is a British folk-pop singer/songwriter who recorded for Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records before breaking through to mainstream success in France in 2009 with the chart-topping smash hit “Like a Hobo,” from his platinum-selling second album, Hobo. Subsequent albums like 2011’s Running Still and 2015’s Curio City continued to fare well in France and Belgium, where he became a chart staple. Born in 1978 in Cornwall, he grew up in Bungay, Suffolk, where his parents ran a hotel. Learning drums at the age of eight, then switching to piano, Winston eventually made his way to London where he composed for theater and ended up playing bass with his brother, Tom Baxter, a fellow singer/songwriter popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Live Nation $25 Concert Week
5/10 | Live Nation | online | all day | $25

LIVE NATION IS CELEBRATING NATIONAL CONCERT WEEK!

Get $25 all-in tickets (no extra fees) to select shows all around the country! See the full list of concerts + get your tickets May 10-May 16! You do not want to miss out!

Thursday, 5/11

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs: Emo Prom
5/11 | DNA Lounge | 375 11th St, SF | 9 pm | $5-15

Featuring a mix of emo, pop punk, and nu metal, this is for anyone who loves high-energy, angst-filled tunes that make you want to jump up, sing along, and mosh! This ain’t your average prom, but a gathering of kindred spirits who find solace in the sounds of bands like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, Paramore and more. So put on your black eyeliner, lace up your Vans, put on your best prom fit, and ask out your crush to Emo Prom!

Unotheactivist
5/11 | 1710 Mission St, SF | Brick & Mortar | 8 pm | $25-30

Atlanta-based rapper whose fame grew over the course of several highly acclaimed mixtapes and multiple head-turning collaborations.

Jay Chandrasekhar
5/11 | Cobb’s Comedy Club | 915 Columbus Ave, SF | 8 pm | $46+

Jayanth Chandrasekhar is an American comedian, film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known for his work with the sketch comedy group Broken Lizard and for directing and starring in the Broken Lizard films Super Troopers, Club Dread, Beerfest and Super Troopers 2. Since 2001, he has also worked frequently as a television director, directing many episodes of Community and The Goldbergs, among dozens of other comedy series.

Friday, 5/12

Kitchen Table
5/12 | Hungry Cafe | 1550 Evans Ave, SF | 7 pm | free entry

Kitchen Table is a series centered around poetry and literature, food and drink, and culture and politics. The core of the series are the questions: What feeds your body? What feeds your mind? Writers share their work, and have conversations with a food journalist and the audience as we all share local food or drink.

Paula Fuga
5/12 | Freight & Salvage | 2020 Addison St, Berkeley | 8 pm | $26-30

Acclaimed for her originality in song composition and spellbinding, soulful vocals, Paula Fuga is one of Hawaii’s top female musicians in generations. A poet at heart and an accomplished ukulele player under Master Instructor, Roy Sakuma, she has intertwined her passions into award-winning songwriting.

Oliver Heldens
5/12 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 9 pm | $25-90

OLIVER HELDENS with MIJA and BENSON

Cassian
5/12 | 1015 Folsom | 1015 Folsom St, SF | 10 pm | $20-25

An esteemed mixer, producer, and DJ, Cassian stands out as a triple threat with an extensive list of studio credits to support the notion. Dance music lovers the world over are already well acquainted with his stylistic finesse thanks to his contributions to works by celebrated acts like Banks, Dom Dolla, Lastlings, Crooked Colours, Hayden James, Broods, Anyma, and most notably RÜFÜS DU SOL.

Darrell Hammond
5/12 | Punch Line | 444 Battery St, SF | 9:45 pm | $27-37

Actor/comedian Darrell Hammond fondly recalls his first taste of show business at age five practicing the impressions of his family members on the porch of their home in Melbourne Florida. It wasn’t many years later when Darrell realized he wanted to submerse himself in the pursuit of bringing his comedy and impressions to a much bigger stage. For years now, Hammond has brought to life a cavalcade of politicians, media figures, celebrities and newsmakers on television. Darrell is known for being one of the most prolific comedians of his time. He holds the title for being the longest running cast member on SNL.

‘Tableaux: Scenes & Stories’ Art Opening
5/12 | Flame-O-Rama | 1920 Polk St, SF | 6-10 pm | free

Come out to the Flame-O-Rama Gallery for our May/June show, an exhibit that expresses the theme of ‘Tableaux’, or simply, images that tell a story. We are showing the work of over 20+ Bay Area artists and are hosting an opening reception, with music, libations & plenty of photo-ops!

‘Tableau’ [ta-blow] (or Tableaux for plural) is a generally open concept. It is a graphic description or representation, a striking or artistic grouping, or a depiction of a scene usually presented on a stage by silent and motionless costumed participants. We are showing work that tells an entire story within a single image or object.

Saturday, 5/13

Mill Valley Music Festival 2023
5/13 | Friends Field | 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley | 12:30 pm | $60-259

Nestled below the slopes of Mount Tamalpais, this festival looks to serve as Mill Valley’s signature event drawing attention to the longstanding cultural contributions of Mill Valley throughout the greater Bay Area and far beyond. Mill Valley Music Festival is more than just music! Come get a massage and a B-12 injection while you view the main stage at our wellness tent. Keep the kiddos busy with face painting, arts & crafts + classic arcade games at our Artcade. Roll through the weekend in our Roller Rink, oh and who could miss all of the amazing art all over the festival grounds! We’ve got something for everyone!

Local Sirens Concert
5/13 | Parks at 5M | 44 Mary St, SF | 1-4 pm | free

This special Local Sirens show centers on healing and reawakening from the pandemic through community and music. It will be a concert of engaging, therapeutic performances by local artists Maya Songbird, Oakland’s Wildchoir, Joyous Dawn, and DJ ariB. Audience members will hear songs from Maya Songbird’s coming-of-age album (recorded at WAM’s studios), and be encouraged to connect with each other through dance. Songbird mixes Disco, Electro, Pop, and Funk to make her own out-of-this-world sound, influenced by being raised in the colorful and historic Castro District in San Francisco.

BBQ Without Borders
5/13 | Oakland Museum of CA | 5-9 pm | $15-100, sliding scale

BBQ without Borders 2023 is a place to celebrate immigration through the lens of regional BBQ! Featuring Chef Lilly Duran of Clandestina Cocina, Chef Ron Dumra of Wah Jee Wah, and Chef Tadayuki of the former Family Cafe; we will be serving delicious Cuban, Japanese and Indian BBQ (both vegetarian and non vegetarian options) along with specialty desserts, signature cocktails, beer, wine and sake. Live entertainment will take place throughout the night- we will have Taiko drummers, a Cuban Salsa band, Bhangra, Flamenco and even a little opera! Plus an immersive exhibit exploring the lives and stories of our featured chefs, a kids activities center, a raffle of amazing prizes and an interactive art exhibit.

Rockridge Rock-N-Stroll: Family Fest
5/13 | Rockridge | 5655 College Ave, Berkeley | 12 pm | free

This series, produced by the Rockridge District Association, offers live outdoor music as visitors stroll College Avenue from Broadway to Alcatraz enjoying sales, craft stations, tastings, pop-up vendors, and other fun activities for all ages. There will be extra activities just for the kids and moms. Young strollers can catch story time at the library, free balloons, crafts, and planting tables with pot decorating, to name a few activities. Moms can celebrate Mother’s Day weekend by tasting chocolates and cheeses, getting bouquets of flowers, free waxing, food samples, and more.

Passionfruit: a Queer Dance Party
5/13 | Crybaby | 1928 Telegraph Ave, Oakland | 10 pm | $15-20

Passionfruit: A Queer Dance Party! With DJs Climaxxx, Ray Reck & our favorite Dreams! Come out for a night of good music, community and a lil bit of ass shakin to do your weekend right!

DARK SPRING: A Classy Fantasy Circus Show & Party
5/13 | Uma Gallery | 3630 Telegraph Ave, Oakland | 7 pm | $30+

Taking place inside an old mortuary remodeled as a modern art gallery, the evening will be as enchanting as it is inspiring. The night kicks off with a myriad of interactive activities including carnival games, treats, photo booth and art exhibition with roaming characters. Our main show features aerial acrobatics, sideshow, bondage, burlesque & drag performers from groups such as The Dragonettes, DAM Circus, Twisted Windows, Manarachy, Flux Vertical Theater & more. Post show features a night market, roaming characters, dance music and opportunities to interact with your companions.

Sunday, 5/14

Mother
5/14 | Alamo Drafthouse Cinema | 2550 Mission St, SF | 4:15 pm | $14

If you’ve ever moved back in with your parents, you know the pain writer/director/star Albert Brooks feels in this heartfelt ‘90s comedy. Perfectly capturing all the all-encompassing guilt and love of the mother/son relationship, MOTHER will leave you laughing and remind you that she’s more than your mom, she’s a person too.

A writer believes the key to solving his many troubles with the opposite sex can be found by retracing the steps of his youth. Science-fiction scribe John Henderson (Albert Brooks) can’t find a solid relationship, so he moves back in with his mother, Beatrice (Debbie Reynolds). John means well, and he seems to genuinely believe that a better understanding of his mom will lead to dating success. But when they begin to bicker, both start rethinking the arrangement.

Mamma Mia!
5/14 | The Cut | 250 Main St, SF | 5 pm | $14-27

The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular 1970s group ABBA.

Mother’s Day Special
5/14 | KitTea Cafe | 96 Gough St, SF | 12 pm | $40

Enjoy 55 minutes with 25+ resident and adoptable rescue cats in our one-of-a-kind Cat Lounge! Your visit includes:

• 1 pair of cozy cat themed socks as a meowmento to remempurr this special Mother’s Day
• Spoil Mom with a shopping spree at our gift shop where everything will be 30% off
• A complimentary Meowmosa (for folks with valid ID’s) or a complimentary drink from our fridge

Mother’s Day at The Ferry Marketplace
5/14 | Ferry Building | 1 Ferry Marketplace, SF | 10 am | free

Join us in the Marketplace for a ‘Ferry Family Day’ of gift making for Mothers and Mother Figures!

Create beautiful pop-up cards, jewelry, and flower crafts. Find the activity table by Cholita Linda and Delica in the central Marketplace.

Japanese Tea Garden Walking Tour w/ Bay Curious
5/14 | KQED Commons | 2601 Mariposa St, SF | 6 pm | $30

Join Bay Curious to immerse in the cultural significance of Golden Gate Park’s Japanese Tea Garden, which dates back to the 1893 World’s Fair and holds a sprawling family history that embodies the experience of Japanese Americans in California from the 1800s to today.

Monday, 5/15

Yoongi Marry Me: Bts Army Dance Party
5/15 | The New Parish | 1743 San Pablo Ave, Oakland | 9:30 pm | $15-20

ARMYs who Travel (AWT) presents Yoongi Marry Me: A BTS ARMY Dance Party—a fan-made night for SUGA from Korean pop group BTS while on his first solo tour, “Agust D”. Since late 2021, AWT has hosted over 60 events bringing together thousands of BTS fans all across the U.S.

New Buck Biloxi (New Orleans), Croissant, The Circulators
5/15 | Thee Stork Club | 2330 Telegraph Ave, Oakland | 8:30 pm | $10

Spirited Away
5/15 | Balboa Theater | 3630 Balboa St, SF | 7:30 pm | $12.50-15

A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.

Austen Leah Rose with Amanda Gunn, Muriel Leung, & Catherine Pond
5/15 | Green Apple Books | 1231 9th Ave, SF | 7 pm | free

Join us when Austen Leah Rose celebrates her collection, Once, This Forest Belonged to a Storm, with Amanda Gunn, Muriel Leung, & Catherine Pond.

Rad Upcoming Events

5/18-5/20 Jake Johannsen
5/21 Hubba Hubba Revue: Y2K

Don’t forget to check out our Big Bad List of Rad Ongoing Events right here!

If you’d like to get our newsletter, signup right here, it takes 5 seconds.