The I ❤️ San Francisco Arts Project is a team of journalists & videographers at BrokeAssStuart.com in partnership with Independent Arts & Media that exists to keep San Francisco’s soul alive — through irreverent, independent journalism that champions local artists, makers, small businesses, and the cultural fabric that makes the Bay Area unforgettable. We amplify the voices that get drowned out, ensuring culture thrives and community comes first.
Our Merch
The book Axios called San Francisco's "unofficial diary". Part memoir, part cultural archive, The Worst of Broke-Ass Stuart brings together twenty years of Stuart's stories like running for Mayor of San Francisco, getting paid to travel the world, and hosting his own TV show, as well as his mediations on things like love, death, and of course, dive bars.
Our Partners’ Events
This holiday season, you’re invited to something truly San Francisco: a one-night celebration with the craft cannabis farmers of the legendary Emerald Triangle. Think high vibes, delicious food and drink, good people, and, the first 100 VIP donors to RSVP receive one of the rare, limited-edition 12 Jays of Xmas Gift Boxes — a curated collection of 12 1g pre rolls, each from a different small farm. Only 100 exist in San Francisco, so don't sleep on this! To get in, all you have to do is make a donation and RSVP to the party.
SF Phil Presents Bruch’s Violin Concerto & Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8
12/13 | Wilsey Center | 301 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $35
Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor unfolds in the hands of Wyatt Underhill, associate concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony, who brings to life the work’s lyricism and fiery brilliance. From its impassioned opening to its stunning finale, the concerto is one of the most beloved in the violin repertoire.
This Week’s Events 12/2-12/8
Tuesday 12/2
Save Ferris
12/2 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $31.96
Formed in 1995, Save Ferris remains one of the seminal and most beloved bands from the third wave of ska. The group’s Orange County home was fertile ground for a thriving music scene, with punk, rock, and ska emerging from the region. Save Ferris blended the best elements of these sounds to help bring the region’s sound to the world.
Figure Drawing & Dance Party
12/2 | Madrone Art Bar | 500 Divisadero St, SF | 6:30 p.m. | $15 cash, 21+
We’ll have a special figure drawing event at Madrone Art Bar, followed by a dance party - with live DJs spinning records all night long.
Wednesday 12/3
Wicked Director Jon M. Chu in Conversation with Mina Kim
12/3 | Sydney Goldstein Theater | 275 Hayes St, SF | 6 p.m. | $45.45 - $67.15
Bay Area native and acclaimed director of Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, Jon M. Chu now brings one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals to the big screen with the conclusion of his highly anticipated two-part adaptation of Wicked. In this exclusive conversation with Mina Kim of KQED’s award-winning program Forum, he reflects on his Bay Area roots, his rise through Hollywood, and the beauty of reimagining stories that feel larger than life.
Civic Center Plaza Tree Lighting 2025
12/3 | Civic Center Plaza | 335 McAllister St, SF | 4 p.m. | Free
A night of festive entertainment, performances include the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, the San Francisco Boys Choir, Magician Joshua Andrews, Boswick the Clown, the Grinch and more!
Drag-Up Comedy
12/3 | Cobb’s Comedy Club | 915 Columbus Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $25.90+, 18+
This will be a fun night of laughs and glitter with host Kat Walker, featuring the best of Bay Area drag and the stars of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Thursday 12/4
Lightscape
Now-1/4 | San Francisco Botanical Garden | 1199 9th Ave, SF | 5:15 p.m. | $20-$32
This one-of-a-kind, immersive light and music experience will transform the Botanical Garden into a mesmerizing world of wonder, food and beverages, and more than one million twinkling lights.
Panel: Women in Tattooing
12/4 | Koret Auditorium Main Library | 100 Larkin St, SF | 6 p.m. | Free
Historically seen as the realm of men, tattooing has evolved in the last 25 years to include more women in the practice. Listen to four Bay Area women tattoo artists share their stories in this conversational discussion.
The Golden Girls Live
12/4-12/21 | Curran Theater | 445 Geary St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $37.44+
Take four drag legends, cast them in two parody holiday episodes of the iconic sitcom The Golden Girls, and you get what the San Francisco Chronicle calls “the true meaning of Christmas.”
Friday 12/5
Let's Glow SF 2025
12/5 | Ferry Building | 1 Ferry Building, SF | 5:30 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP
Breathtaking animated projections will illuminate eight iconic buildings across the city's core nightly, transforming them into colossal, colorful canvases featuring work by 19 artists from around the globe.
North Beach Holiday Night Market
12/5 | North Beach | Grant Ave between Vallejo & Filbert, SF | 5 p.m. | Free
The North Beach Night Market series features the participation of local restaurants, art vendors, gift shops, entertainment, games, and much more.
Saturday 12/6
The Box SF Holiday Artists and Makers Fair
12/6-12/7 | The Box SF | 1069 Howard St, SF | 11 a.m. | Free
Join us at our historic building in the heart of San Francisco for a weekend of creativity, community, and supporting local artists sales!
Denim Market: Buy, Sell and Customize!
12/6 | KQED Headquarters | 2601 Mariposa St, SF | 3 p.m. | $12.96-includes food/beverage voucher
Your favorite local boutiques, thrift stores and streetwear brands converge at KQED for a denim market and community clothing swap!
Krampus Pageant
12/6 | El Rio | 3158 Mission St, SF | 3 p.m. Doors | $10-$20 suggested donation, 21+
This raucous night of drag, live music, and devilish spectacle raises funds for Larkin Street Youth Services, a nonprofit dedicated to ending youth homelessness in San Francisco.
2nd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
12/6 | Yerba Buena Gardens | 750 Howard St, SF | 6 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP
Watch as the magnificent holiday tree, a living coastal redwood on our Great Lawn, lights up the night sky, bringing joy and warmth to all who attend.
Sunday 12/7
3rd Annual Inner Sunset Holiday Lights Stroll
12/7 | Inner Sunset | Irving St, SF | 5 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP
Featuring festively decorated and lit storefronts, living windows, live music, and in-shop events scattered throughout the neighborhood, including a scavenger hunt!
Monday 12/8
Ben Folds
12/8-12/9 | SFJazz | 201 Franklin St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $44.50+
Singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Ben Folds has built a protean career by moving from strength to strength, classical music to pop to alternative rock.
Next Week’s Events 12/9-12/15
Tuesday 12/9
Small Business Holiday Pop-Up
12/9 | San Francisco City Hall | 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, SF | 11 a.m. | Free
Take in the splendor of City Hall and support over 50 makers, artisans, and merchants as San Francisco celebrates the holiday season.
Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers
12/9 | The Chapel | 777 Valencia St, SF | 8 p.m. | $42.06
Hobo Johnson is an American vocalist and frontman of the band Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers, blending emo rap, spoken word, and raw hip‑hop.
Wednesday 12/10
The Holiday —Film with Live Orchestra
12/10 & 12/11 | Davies Symphony Hall | 201 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $49.50+
Watch “The Holiday” starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz with a live orchestra conducted by Anthony Parnther.
Thursday 12/11
Jolly Jack London! Holiday Bar Crawl
12/11 | Jack London Square | 333 Broadway, Oakland | 6 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP
Explore your favorite neighborhood bars and restaurants, enjoy holiday-inspired cocktails, beers, and bites, and take in the twinkling lights and creative décor as each venue shows off its unique holiday spirit.
The Bouncing Souls
12/11 | The UC Theatre | 2036 University Ave, Berkeley | 7 p.m. | $44
The Bouncing Souls have been consistently churning out their beloved brand of anthemic punk since 1989 and have earned an intensely loyal fanbase with tireless touring and an unrelenting love of making music.
Friday 12/12
The Crossword Show at KQED
12/12 | The Commons at KQED 2601 Mariposa St, SF | 7 p.m. | $41.52-$87.21
Host Zach Sherwin (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Epic Rap Battles of History”) presides as his guests Glynn Washington, host of Snap Judgment, and comedian Jackie Keliiaa solve a crossword puzzle live onstage, with everything displayed on a screen so the audience can follow along.
Christmas Excelsior Night Market
12/12 | Norton Street Parking Lot | 14-16 Norton St, SF | 5 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP
Get in the holiday spirit: make a dent in your gift shopping with lots of local artist vendors, warm up with some hot chocolate and cookies, and maybe sing a carol or two.
Saturday 12/13
Santa Con
12/13 | Various Bars | Mission District, SF | 12 p.m. | $23.18-$33.85
Join us in the lively Mission District, where the official SantaCon pub crawl will feature some of San Francisco’s best bars and venues.
Twisting the Rabbit Hole
12/13 | Heron Arts | 7 Heron St, SF | 2:30 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP
Dive into a multidimensional, multimedia celebration of visionary art, consciousness, and sonic innovation at Twisting the Rabbit Hole.
Sunday 12/14
Hubba Hubba Revue’s Holiday Spectacular
12/14 | DNA Lounge | 375 11th St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $15-$40, 18+
It's our 20th annual holiday bash, and Hubba Hubba Revue's gonna stuff your stockings with pole dancing reindeer, sultry Santas, & the tops in holiday tease! Get your tickets now and come deck your halls with world-famous burlesque!
Unscripted: John Cusack
12/14 | Golden Gate Theatre | 1 Taylor St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $54.90+
An Evening with John Cusack and screening of "High Fidelity".
Monday 12/15
American Experience Screening: "American Coup: Wilmington 1898"
12/15 | New Parkway Theater | 474 24th St, Oakland | 5 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP
This community-centered gathering invites audiences to examine one of the most pivotal and under-told events in U.S. history—the only successful coup d’état ever carried out on American soil.
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