By Jerucifer, Arts & Events Editor

We’ve got a slew of dance parties, art shows, and so much more going down, and I’m not even talking about Burning Man! Sam Smith is in town, and I know I can’t be the only one JUICED to see them. I really hope to hear “Man I Am” from the Barbie soundtrack! Here’s what I’m most excited about for the week of 8/22…

Partners’ Events

Disco Sleaze – A Proper Dance Party
8/27 | Monarch Gardens | 428 11th St, SF | 3-9 pm | $20

We’re bringing you dusty vibes and disco sleaze with Brooklyn-based, Underground System- these guys are on fire and slaying the music game right now, love at first listen realness. Setting the good times afloat with forever favorite, CarrieOnDisco, and the fab fellas from WatchOurStep, this is a proper.fucking.dance.party and it’s going to be smoldering. Let’s dance!

This Week’s Events

Tuesday, 8/22

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure
8/22 | Roxie Theater | 3117 16th St, SF | 9 pm | $5-14

When Pee-wee Herman’s idyllic world is destroyed by the theft of his fire-engine red bicycle, the pre-pubescent adult sets out on a manic cross-country odyssey to recover his most valued possession. Director Tim Burton makes his feature-film debut with this comic masterpiece.

“Yaaaaaass, And…” A Drag & Improv Show
8/22 | Oasis | 298 11th St, SF | 7 pm | $20

Calling all fabulous friends and comedy connoisseurs! Get ready to unleash your laughter and witness the most hilarious, jaw-dropping extravaganza of the year!

Presenting “YAAAAAASS, AND…” An Evening of Drag Improv, hosted by the one and only Lucinda Puss! Join us for a night filled with side-splitting laughter, outrageous antics, and unforgettable performances. Our incredible lineup includes the fierce and fabulous Coco Buttah, the quick-witted and stunning Elsa Touche, the electrifying and stunning Lisa Frankenstein, and the gorgeous and hilarious Vanilla Meringue!

Sewing 102: They & Them Comfy Shorts (Size & Gender Inclusive)
8/22 | Workshop | 1798 McAllister St, SF | 7 pm | $165

In Sewing 102: They & Them Comfy Shorts, our expert sewing instructor Hayley will guide you through all the steps to produce one pair of simple, elastic band and drawstring shorts using chambray fabric. So, whether you’re outside doing a park hang on a Saturday, or you’re inside lying glued to your couch on a Sunday, these shorts are a perfect, cozy option!

This is a two-session class. The first session is three hours and focuses on altering your paper pattern and cutting your fabric. The second session is six hours (plus a break for lunch) and focuses on sewing your fabric pieces together and completing the construction of your pair of shorts. Session date/times are:

Session 1: Tuesday, August 22nd – 7pm-10pm
Session 2: Saturday, August 26th – 11am-6pm

Morehshin Allahyari & Stephanie Dinkins Difference Machines
8/22 | Gray Area | 2665 Mission St, SF | 7 pm | $15-25 (members get in free)

Difference Machines: Technology and Identity in Contemporary Art addresses the complex relationship between the technologies we use and the identities we inhabit. The exhibition presents the work of seventeen contemporary artists who ask some of the most urgent questions we face today: How is technology changing the way we see ourselves, and each other? In what ways does it contribute to—or allow us to resist—prejudice and systemic forms of oppression? What role should it have in our lives and in our communities?

Dynamic and interactive, these projects transform the space of the museum into a laboratory for experimenting with our increasingly powerful “difference machines,” as we strive to invent a more equitable future.

Wednesday, 8/23

Dog Band (Record Release Party) + Snook + Moebar Hayes
8/23 | The Knockout | 3223 Mission St, SF | 8 pm | $7

DOG BAND (RECORD RELEASE PARTY) + SNOOK + MOEBAR HAYES: LO FI EMO AND MORE

Protoje & The Indiggnation
8/23 | The Independent | 628 Divisadero St, SF | 8 pm | $35

The exciting resurgence of conscious, organic music in Jamaica, dubbed as the “Reggae Revival,” has spread like wildfire over the last five years. Protoje remains at the forefront of this movement. Born Oje Ken Ollivierre in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica to singer Lorna Bennett and a former calypso king Mike Ollivierre of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the GRAMMY-nominated artist creates a contemporary sound by blending hip-hop, R&B, soul and rock into his native genre of roots reggae and dancehall.

Films at the Freight: Summer of Soul
8/23 | Freight & Salvage | 2020 Addison St, Berkeley | 7 pm | $7-10

Summer of Soul is part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just 100 miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and largely forgotten–until now. SUMMER OF SOUL shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension, and more.

Wednesdays Are A Drag
8/23 |The Port Bar | 2023 Broadway Ave, Oakland | 9 pm | free, $30 prepaid tab for reservations (parties of 2-6)

Come thru and catch your favorite hostess Amoura Teese & the campy clowny queen Loma Prietta as they strut and slay your Wednesday!

Thursday, 8/24

Caught in the Act Cabaret
8/24 | Brava Theater | 2781 24th St, SF | 8 pm | $45-300

Caught in the Act Cabaret is back with a very special event at Brava! We curate live shows that feature a lineup of diverse and extraordinary performers from the Bay Area and beyond in burlesque, belly dance, musical acts, drag, comedy, contortion, spoken word, magic, and much more. Brava! for Women in the Arts celebrates over 30 years as a professional arts organization dedicated to cultivating the artistic expression of women, LGBTQIA, people of color, youth, and other underrepresented voices. Together, Caught in the Act Cabaret and Brava! are bringing you one evening of up-close and personal entertainment that you won’t find anywhere else. This is the ultimate intimate experience. Only 50 tickets available!

Alice Waters in Conversation
8/24 | Herbst Theatre | 401 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7 pm | $30-40

Alice Waters is the visionary chef and owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. She is the author of four cookbooks, including Chez Panisse Vegetables and Fanny at Chez Panisse. Known as the Queen of Local Food, she founded the Edible schoolyard at Berkeley’s Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. She lives in San Francisco.

Guitar & Ukulele Lessons
8/24 | Salesforce Park | 425 Mission St, SF | 12-1 pm | free

Bring your own guitar or ukulele to participate in this lesson series provided by San Francisco Rock Project. This activity is free and open to the public. Limited to 18 participants recommended ages 10 and up.

Movies on the Square: Groundhog Day
8/24 | Redwood City Courthouse Square | 2200 Broadway St, RWC | 8:30 pm | free

A narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day, and the day keeps repeating until he gets it right.

Friday, 8/25

The Infinite Wrench
8/25-8/26 | CAST | 447 Minna St, SF | 9 pm | $8-25

The San Francisco Neo-Futurists present The Infinite Wrench, an attempt to perform 30 bite-sized plays in a frantic race against the clock, in an order determined by you, the audience. Each week, the ensemble offers up new plays ranging from the personal, to the political, to the profoundly WTF, all truthful and inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With The Infinite Wrench, the SF Neo-Futurists promise to break the fourth wall and maybe your heart but never your wallet in this ongoing, ever-changing show the SF Chronicle calls one of “22 San Francisco things everyone must do.” We hear it’s a great first date, too.

Pale Ale Pop-Up
8/25-8/26 | The Mission | 1102 Valencia St, SF | 5 pm | free

Rally your friends and join our Still the One celebration with your all-time favorites at the Pale Ale Pop-Up, a free limited-time experience from Sierra Nevada! Some things just grip your senses and never let go. They’re so intriguing, funny, or delicious that they affix themselves to your very soul. No matter the tides of time, they are Still the One. Like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and everything else that’s waiting for you at our pop-up in the Mission District.

New Diplomat
8/25 | The Chapel | 777 Valencia St, SF | 8 pm | $20-25

New Diplomat is an indie, electronic synth-pop band out of San Francisco, California. The band consists of vocalist, Horacio O’Brien Ferres, guitarist, Paolo Von Giordano, and drummer, Carlos Rodrigues. Together, they’ve fashioned a mix of their influences, such as new wave, brit-pop, synth-pop, and indie-rock.

Tony Rock
8/25 | SJ Improv | 62 S 2nd St, SJ | 9:45 pm | $25-75

Comedian, Actor, Producer Tony Rock is the hardest working man in show business. Born in the same Brooklyn Hospital where most of his eight brothers and sisters arrived into the world, Tony was born laughing and it was quickly apparent that his big brother wasn’t going to be the only famous comedian in the family.

The Tracy Piper’s “All the Feels” Solo Exhibition Opening
8/25 | Voss Gallery | 3344 24th St, SF | 6-9 pm | free

RSVP to enjoy a special viewing of The Tracy Piper’s “All the Feels” solo exhibition of contemporary figurative paintings that capture the intricate nuances of the human experience.

Dress in your artsy best rainbow attire and meet fellow art lovers while taking pleasure in the artist’s works—in addition to a curated selection of regional artists in the gallery’s lower level space [The Down Low]. The exhibition is on view through September 23, 2023. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 12-6PM, or by appointment.

9th Ave: Jenn Shapland with Isaac Fellman
8/25 | Green Apple Books | 1231 9th Ave, SF | 7-9 pm | free

Join us on Friday, August 25th at 7pm PT when Jenn Shapland joins us to celebrate the release of her essay collection, Thin Skin, with Isaac Fellman at 9th Ave! Examining capitalism’s toxic creep into the land, our bodies, and our thinking, this incisive new work is “a visceral exploration” (Katherine May, author of Wintering) from a National Book Award finalist and a powerful literary mind. Masks Encouraged for In-Person Attendance or watch online/Livestream HERE.

Saturday, 8/26

Dog Days of Summer

8/26 | The Crossing | 200 Folsom St, SF | 10am-2pm | free

WATCH OR JOIN the doggy costume contest at 11:00am, where adorable pups will strut their stuff in fabulous summer themed outfits. Registration opens at 10:00am at the information booth.

INDULGE in delicious brunch specials and beverages from East Cut resident eateries and bar and rotating guest food trucks.

EXPLORE, SHOP & ADOPT from a range of pet-friendly products, services providers, and local animal shelters offering demonstrations, giveaways, and adoption opportunities.

DANCE with your dog at the disco featuring live DJs spinning classic disco, soul and funk jams from 12-2pm. Human and/or dog costumes are encouraged!

BONG-O BINGO
8/26 | Mission Cannabis Club | 2441 Mission St, SF | 6-9 pm | $15

Join Thee Pristine Condition, Brandelicious, Pup Pickles and DJ Dank for an exciting night of drag cannabis bingo. Get high, have an infused mocktail, play bingo and win cannabis prizes with every round. Sponsored by Manzanita Naturals, Clout King and more!

Dead Boys, Gimme Danger, Linda XYZ Band
8/26 | Bottom of the Hill | 1233 17th St, SF | 8 pm | $20-25

The Dead Boys were one of the first punk bands to escalate the level of violence, nihilism, and pure ugliness of punk rock to extreme new levels.

Gimme Danger is a tribute to Iggy and the Stooges.

Linda XYZ Band hearkens back to the early days of punk.

Civic Center Carnival
8/26 | UN Plaza | Fulton St between SF Library & Asian Art Museum, SF | 12:30-9:30 pm | $10

Civic Center Carnival will kick off Thursday, Aug. 24 and run through Sunday, Aug. 27, on Fulton Street between Main Library and the Asian Art Museum. It will be open from 2:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 12:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to Civic Center Carnival requires a $10 minimum purchase toward games, rides or food for each person over 12. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will distribute a limited number of complimentary passes to nonprofits serving youth in its Equity Zones, including the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods.

The Isley Tribute with Soul Mechanix
8/26 | The New Parish | 1743 San Pablo Ave, Oakland | 9 pm | $20

The Isley Brothers (Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley, Vernon Isley, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper) are an American Soul, R&B, and Funk band that began recording in the late 1950’s and had hit songs in six straight decades (from the 1950’s to the 2000’s). They recently celebrated their 60th anniversary and are one of the most important and influential bands in the history of American music.

Sunday, 8/27

A RENAISSANCE DAY PARTY
8/27 | Crybaby | 1928 Telegraph Ave, Oakland | 1-7 pm | $15

Don’t miss your chance to attend the party of the year and dance to House, Disco, Funk and Beyoncé’s Renaissance album! Get your tickets now and secure your spot to dance and SLAY in your best Renaissance outfit! Limited availability – act fast before it sells out!

Plum
8/27 | Ivy Room | 860 San Pablo Ave, Albany | 7 pm | $10-12

Formed in Oakland, CA sometime in 2020, Plum is comprised of Jon Kruppe (guitar+vocals), Alex Liebman-Peláez (drums) and Daniel Mamane (bass).

Jungle Brothers
8/27 | The Independent | 628 Divisadero St, SF | 8 pm | $25-30

Jungle Brothers have been around since hip hop’s Golden Era and are the longest running Hip Hop group in the world. They continue to adapt creatively to the changing soundscapes of both hip hop and DJ culture. Afrika Baby Bam and Mike G have been experimenting since they first appeared (then with DJ Sammy B) on the NYC hip hop scene with the release of the ground-breaking ‘Straight Out The Jungle’ in 1988. Their raw, energetic debut included “I’ll House You” a bona fide international hit. A prototype for later envelope-pushing crews like the Wu-Tang Clan, the Jungle Brothers were among the first groups to aggregate a like-indeed posse of fellow rappers that became the legendary Native Tongues: De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love and Black Sheep.

Pitch Perfect
8/27 | The Cut Outdoor Cinema | 250 Main St, SF | 5 pm | $14-27

Beca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school’s all-girls singing group.

33 Shades of Green
8/27 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 2 pm | $50

DJ Shellhart presents 33 Shades of Green Birthday Bash Party!

Monday, 8/28

Sam Smith
8/28 | Chase Center | 1 Warriors Way, SF | 8 pm | $35-149

Sam Smith was born in London in May 1992 and began singing at a young age. They first hit the charts as the featured singer on the 2012 Disclosure song “Latch,” and released their first single, “Lay Me Down,” soon after. In 2014, Smith released In the Lonely Hour, their heartfelt debut full-length album. It contained the smash hit “Stay With Me,” a radio staple over the course of the entire year. For their work on In the Lonely Hour, Smith was awarded four Grammys, among them Song of the Year and Record of the Year. In 2019, Smith announced that they prefer to use non-binary pronouns. Recently they were featured on the 2023 Barbie film soundtrack.

Literary Pop!
8/28 | The Booksmith | 1644 Haight St, SF | 7 pm | entry by donation

Literary arts and pop culture collide to bring you Literary Pop!

We’ve gathered writers, storytellers, and comedians to take a deep dive into their pop culture obsessions. We feature everything from comedic fan rants to spoken word odes of love to true stories about the way imaginary characters and real celebrities have changed the course of our lives. Pop culture shapes the way we view the world so we believe it’s worth taking a closer look at the books, music, people, and even cartoon characters that make up pop culture.

Krazy For Karaoke Singing Party
8/28 | The Knockout | 3223 Mission St, SF | 9 pm | free

KRAZY FOR KARAOKE SINGING PARTY KARAOKE FREEKS UNITE, JUMP ON STAGE AND UNLEASH YOUR INNER SINATRA!

Boris + Melvins
8/28 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 pm | $35

The legendary Boris are greeting their 30-year career as one of experimental music’s most forward-thinking, heavy, and innovative bands. Continuing to expand their prolific catalog, the group returns with Heavy Rocks (2022) (out on August 12th via Relapse Records) and once again channels the classic proto-metal sounds of the 70’s into something all new.

The Melvins are one of modern music’s most influential bands. Having formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington, the group founded by singer/guitar player Buzz Osborne (with stalwart drummer Dale Crover joining the following year), has been credited with merging the worlds of punk rock and heavy music, forming a new subgenre all its own. Over the band’s 40-year history, they’ve released 30-plus original albums, numerous live full-lengths and far too many to count singles and rarities.

Rad Upcoming Events 

8/31 | BFF.Fm Studios | 10th Birthday Gala

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