ActivismArtist you should knowArts and CultureBoozeCharityComedyEat & DrinkMusicNewsPerformer you should knowSan FranciscoSatire/Humor/ComedySF Bay Area

San Francisco Got Its Groove Back, The Cultural BOOM Feels Real

Updated: Oct 17, 2024 09:53
The Bay's best newsletter for underground events & news

After an incredible summer of live events, concerts, and free outdoor festivals, San Francisco feels like it got its groove back. Every outdoor space that could hold a crowd was alive this past June-September from the Golden Gate Park bandshell to the street festivals every first Thursday in SOMA, every which way you turned there was music, art, and community.

A far cry from last winter’s deluge of negative media stories focused on San Francisco’s so-called ‘demise’. The conservative crones were crying foul at every opportunity, trying to label us as a ‘failed city’, bloviating on every negative statistic they could conjure without ever setting foot in the Bay.

But not everyone measures success with financial spreadsheets and alarmist soundbites.

And those pundits have forgotten what we’ve always known, that since the Gold Rush San Francisco has been a town of boom and bust. And this past summer, a rhythmic, steady boom was heard echoing through speakers and pounding on dance floors, streets, parks, and halls throughout our city.

Metaphorical you might say, but if you were out there like us this summer, you felt it too. SF culture is alive.

I couldn’t be happier to tell you about a festival coming this fall, that in many ways symbolizes Bay Area community, culture, and resilience. KQED, the Bay Area’s beloved public media station, is throwing its free, festive block party and open house at its headquarters in San Francisco’s Mission District.

You get to enjoy the amazing local musical talent on the Noise Pop stage outdoors, and indoors you get to explore where all the amazing live journalism and broadcasting happens. The event is totally free and will have a delicious collection of food and art vendors all over the street party. Not to mention, the voices we love from Forum, NPR, Bay Curious, Frontline, Deep Look, and much more, live, and onstage inside.

Let’s take a look at all the wonderful events you should put on your calendar, so you can rub elbows with your community, in the coming days and months…

October 19

Spend a Saturday with KQED, the Bay Area’s beloved public media station, for a free and festive block party and open house at our headquarters in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Spend a Saturday with KQED, the Bay Area’s beloved public media station, for a free and festive block party and open house at our headquarters in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Noise Pop Homegrown Stage
ALL DAY Hosts Per Sia and Dulce De Leche
11:00AM-2:00PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE DJ Brown Angel
2:00-2:30PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE Aki Kumar
3:00-3:30PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE Bululú
4:00-4:45PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE Brijean
5:00-6:00PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE La Misa Negra

NEWSROOM ENTRANCE
11:00 AM- 3:00PM Newsroom and Studio Tours (first come first served)
11:00AM-1:00PM Recordings on Camera: KQED/Check Please Testimonials (first come first served)
11:00AM-1:00PM Recordings on Mic: Radio Testimonials (first come first served)

KQED LIVE STAGE AT THE COMMONS
11:15:00 AM Screening: KQED’s 70 Years of Broadcasting the Bay
12:00:00 PM PropFest! Breaking Down Your Ballot w/ Bay Curious
1:00:00 PM Can AI Be Funny? with Comedians Dhaya Lakshminarayanan + Sarah Rose Riskind
2:00:00 PM The Choice: Frontline and KQED Covering the Presidential Election
3:00:00 PM Mind Your Own: Stories of Belonging From African Perspectives
4:00:00 PM Book Bans & the Freedom to Read with Litquake + Brian Watt
5:00:00 PM Forum with Mina Kim + Special Guest

And Much Much more!

Saturday, October 19 | 11am – 6pm
KQED Headquarters | 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
ALL AGES | FREE
More info & set times

October 26

Halloween Rock n’ Scream!

A Free concert at Jerry Garcia Amphitheater with Die Spitz, The McCharmlys, Nobody’s Baby, and Lost Puppy Forever!

Presented by Bottom of the Hill & SF Live

Noon – Doors
1pm – Lost Puppy Forever
1:30 – Dog costume contest, MCed by Lost Puppy Forever, prizes offered)
2:15 – Nobody’s Baby
3:00 – The McCharmlys
4:00 – Die Spitz

DATE: Saturday, October 26, 2024
TIME: 12:00PM – 6:00PM
LOCATION: Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, McLaren Park

FREE • All Ages

Info

October 27

Castro Merchants Halloween Block Party & Castro’s Weekend of Halloween

Castro Merchants Halloween Block Party – a spooky all-ages event! Halloween is back in the Castro and we’ll be bringing the festivities out to the neighborhood! Featuring costume contests for kids, pets, and adults, entertainment, and more. Dress to impress!

Oct 27, 2024 · 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Noe St. Between Market & Beaver, San Francisco
Info

Castro’s Weekend of Halloween

Join us along Castro Street & other parts of the district on Saturday October 26th + 27th as the neighborhood comes alive with Spooky Halloween activations. There will be loads of decor, candy, photos and activities.

Saturday, October 26, 2024
12:00 PM  6:00 PM
Info

November 7

UNSTAGED

A FREE, BLOCK-LONG INTERACTIVE ARTS EXPERIENCE PRESENTED BY MARKET STREET ARTS

Each First Thursday through November from 4-7 PM, UNSTAGED: First Thursdays Live on Mid-Market, is a free, interactive, live performance experience on Market Street between 5th and 6th.

UNSTAGED activates sidewalks and storefronts bringing SF’s entertainment district, Mid-Market, back to its historic roots. UNSTAGED joins other Market Street Arts programs, Make it! and Busk it!, to bring artistic expression to the public realm throughout this vital San Francisco corridor.

November 7, 4-7 PM
Market Street between 5th and 6th, San Francisco
Info & Programming here.

November 14

Walk Your Values: A Conscious Fashion Show

Walk Your Values is a fashion show experience hosted by KQED and ethical fashion nonprofit Remake. Inspired by Remake’s Walk Your Values New York Fashion Week runway shows and KQED Arts’ series Fit Check, this unique gathering celebrates self-expression through conscious style choices and pre-loved, upcycled, and ethically produced pieces.

Join local creatives, activists, designers and influential style/fashion journalists to explore the lifecycle of clothes and the intersection of personal style and sustainability in the Bay Area.

Dress in your most stylish pre-loved outfit, learn style tips and connect with other fashion enthusiasts to build a better future for people and the planet.

Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:00 PM
SF Ferry Building, Grand Hall 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco
In Person: $28.75 ($25 ticket + $3.75 taxes and fees)

Tickets & Livestream

November 21

Oakland to All Mini-Ball: Fashion, Runway and Vogue Competition

Bay Area ballroom collective Oakland to All is throwing a Breaking News Mini-Ball at KQED!

Ballroom culture blends voguing performance and runway competition, and carries a legacy in the LGBTQ+ community beginning in the 1920s.

This event features a panel discussion featuring Bay Area legends and a deluxe ball. Four categories inspired by the news media industry will be interpreted through a ballroom lens. Only one person can win per category and take home the trophy and the bragging rights.

CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

Whether you’re a seasoned icon or a fresh face ready to make your mark, the stage is waiting for you to christen the first ever vogue ball at KQED.

Breaking News! The kids are about to SERVE!

Thursday, November 21, 2024 7:00 PM (PT)
The Commons, KQED Headquarters 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
In Person: $10 / Livestream: Free

Tickets & livestream

December 5

Salsa Showdown

Salsa comes in all forms: It’s a flavorful way to top a delicious dish, a musical genre and a hotly contested secret ingredient of abuelas!

Dip your tortilla chip into the salsas produced by local makers PapaloteCasa Sanchez and Kuali, and learn how Mexico’s regional cultures and Bay Area vibes influence their craft.

Then, move your body to the hypnotic salsa sounds of the band Bululú with a post-tasting dance party!

Thursday, December 5, 2024 7:00 PM (PT)
The Commons, KQED Headquarters 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
In Person: $23 ($20 ticket + $3 taxes and fees) / Livestream: Free

Tickets & livestream

December 10

Dating with Dhaya

Looking for love in the digital age is tricky, especially for love-seekers over 55!

This edition of Dating with Dhaya is here to help. Comedian Dhaya Lakshminarayanan plays matchmaker for one lucky person while subjecting local contestants to hilarious rounds of revealing questions (and some gentle roasting) as they search for a date. Will Cupid’s arrow hit a target? Will it even matter when you’re laughing so hard?

Before the show, we’ll host trivia happy hour at 6pm for those looking to make platonic connections. After the show, stick around for a single mingle and make a match of your own!

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 7:00 PM (PT)Add to Calendar
The Commons, KQED Headquarters 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
In Person: $23 Show-Only; $30 Trivia Happy Hour + Show (plus taxes and fees) / Livestream: Free

Tickets & livestream

December 13

KQED Holiday Night Market
Apply to be a vendor here!

Want to get in the holiday mood by supporting Bay Area creators? Local food and craft vendors take over KQED’s headquarters at this seasonal night market.

Chocolatiers, jewelry makers, ceramicists, bakers and more highlight their hidden gems and niche finds for shoppers of all ages — and they are ready to help you to find great gifts for your loved ones.

Admission includes a food and beverage coupon.

Friday, December 13, 2024 5:00 PM (PT)
KQED Headquarters 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
In Person: $11.50 ($10 ticket + $1.50 fees and taxes)

Tickets & livestream

December 18

Science Is A Piece of Cake: California Forests

Learn about California’s beautiful forests via cake! KQED Check, Please! producer Cecilia Phillips hosts a cake bake-off, where California’s rich forests will serve as our visual prompt.

Each cake will be inspired by trees and their surrounding ecosystems, depicting a rich canopy of flora and fauna.

Enter the competition as a beginner, intermediate or advanced baker or join in the audience to learn about this important habitat — and eat delicious cake!

Sign up to enter your cake here!

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 7:00 PM (PT)
KQED Headquarters 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
In Person: $23 ($20 ticket + $3 taxes and fees) / Livestream: Free
Tickets & livestream

This post was sponsored by KQED

Broke-Ass Stuart works because of reader support. Join us now.

Howdy! My name is Katy Atchison and I'm an Associate Editor for Broke-Ass Stuart.

I want to take the time to say thank you for supporting independent news media by reading BrokeAssstuart.com. Supporting independent news sources like Broke-Ass Stuart is vital to supporting our community because it amplifies the voices of a wide variety of diverse opinions. You also help support small businesses and local artists by sharing stories from Broke-Ass Stuart.

Because you're one of our supporters, I wanted to send over a pro-tip.

Our bi-weekly newsletter is a great way to get round ups of Broke-Ass Stuart stories, learn about new businesses in The Bay Area, find out about fun local events and be first in line for giveaways.

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

Previous post

Best Bay Area Events 10/8-10/28

Next post

Community Raises Over $50,000 in Response to Antisemitic Vandalism at Manny's


Alex Mak - Managing Editor

Alex Mak - Managing Editor

I'm the managing editor and co-owner of this little experiment. I enjoy covering & Publishing Bay Area News as well as writing about Arts, Culture & Nightlife.

If you're a writer, artist, or performer who would like to get your work out there, or if you've got great things to promote, we've got 200K followers and really fun ways to reach them. We love making things with other Bay creatives, for our partners, and our community. Don't be shy.
alex at brokeassstuart.com
IG: @alexmaksf