Welcome to the COYOTE Calendar. In case you hadn't noticed, we have well and truly entered the holidays season. Chag Sameach, Merry Christmas, and happy whatever to those of you who don't care about any of the various religious festivities. There are still a couple of art markets this weekend for your last-minute shopping, and you can find those on our holiday art market map.
This week's calendar is a little lighter than usual, as venues and organizers close up shop and take a (well-deserved) break. But we've still got some gems, including vampires, lowriders, sign language, conchas, and several ways to piss off your closed-minded relatives. We'll post new events each Wednesday. Go forth and enjoy!
Burn Piles volunteer stewardship day 〰️ Throughout the year volunteers help maintain park spaces by thinning and pruning the forest. Now that we're out of fire season and into the rainier months, it's time to burn those piles of cuttings. And you can help! All ages welcome; no prior experience necessary. Just a healthy appreciation for conservations, and obviously fire. 〰️ 9am-3pm 〰️ Rancho Mark West, Santa Rosa 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Oakland Review of Books Holiday Party (and Secret Santa) 〰️ Our pals over at Oakland Review of Books are having a holiday party! Swing by and meet the team, learn more about this new publication, hear a little bit about what Herb Caen thought about Oakland, and most importantly participate in an Oakland-themed Secret Santa. "Bring a piece of Oakland paraphernalia — a book, a pamphlet, an old-school souvenir, anything worth less than $20 -- and you'll get to exchange it for someone else's piece of Oakland history." (And if you don't have anything, you're in luck — East Bay Booksellers will be on hand with a bunch of options.) 〰️ 6pm-8pm 〰️ Local Economy 〰️ $10 〰️more info
Female Trouble 〰️ John Waters' films should be viewed in a theater (preferably an old, beautiful one) at any and every opportunity. Female Trouble is essential: A spoiled schoolgirl runs away from home, gets pregnant while hitch-hiking, and ends up as a fashion model for a pair of beauticians who like to photograph women committing crimes. 〰️ 7:30pm-9:15pm 〰️ The 4 Star Theater, SF 〰️more info
Art Benefit at Discodelic 〰️ Repeat after me: FUCK ICE. Come through to this benefit where you can dance and shop for local art for a good cause — all proceeds go to support La Raza Community Resource Center, dedicated to helping keep immigrant families safe and healthy. 〰️ 5pm-8pm 〰️ Discodelic, Discos Viajantes, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Lowrider Sip & Paint (Women-Only) 〰️ Gather round a 1966 Pontiac (AKA Ruby Rose), sip on something, and paint with other women led by tattoo artist Sylvia Duenas from Luna Tattoo Studio. Stick around for an oldies dance party. 〰️ 6:30pm 〰️ Sidelines Bark & Grill, San Jose 〰️ $49+ 〰️more info
Christmas Lights & Caroling with The Crucible 〰️ The only nice thing about it getting dark at fucking 5pm these days is that you can see holiday lights earlier. And if you want to bike around and sing some songs with some folks this is a great place to meet new friends and learn more about the bike community in Oakland. All riders of all experiences welcome. 〰️ 6:30pm 〰️ MacArthur BART Station, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Holi-gay Extravaganza with Miss Sweet Nothing 〰️ Gird yourself before you have to go make small talk with relatives who just don't get the whole pronoun thing by seeing some live drag hosted by Miss Sweet Nothing and featuring Sage Sanchez Munro. 〰️ 6pm-9pm 〰️ Public Market Emeryville 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Vino & Vinyl 〰️ When you think about it, there's really no other artist you could select for a vinyl listening session this close to the holidays. It's Whitney Houston or nothing. (Ducks from the Mariah Carey fans who are surely hurling tomatoes at me right now). Free wine for the first 25 people, come vibe to the voice of one of the best to ever do it. 〰️ 7pm-11pm 〰️ Couchdate, Okland 〰️ FREE but RSVP is required 〰️more info
GenderFuck 〰️ Fuck gender. Fuck while talking about gender. Fuck while very much not talking about gender. Whatever you like, really, at this play party celebrating all gender expressions with DJ sets by Del and Finishher. 〰️ 8pm-4am 〰️ Steamworks, Berkeley 〰️more info
Skate Escape 〰️ The COVID skating craze might be over but you can still bust out your TikTok-trained moves at Adult Night! Or you can wobble around the rink and admire those who can do that cool moonwalk thing without falling on their face. 〰️ 8pm-11pm 〰️ Northgate Mall, San Rafael 〰️ $12 for a skating pass, $3 to rent skates 〰️more info
Louis Feuillade’s Les Vampires 〰️ Spooky season may be over but vampires are forever. That's one of their main deals. Come see this talk about a "pioneering French silent crime serial that blends mystery, thriller, and surrealism across ten episodes," made between 1915 and 1916. "A landmark of early cinema, come discover why Les Vampires still inspires audiences and filmmakers today." 〰️ 2pm-4pm 〰️ SFPL Golden Gate Valley 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
1st Oakland Junk Journal Club Meetup 〰️ Okay before you read too far into this one and get too excited, there is a waitlist. And it has 123 people on it. But we still wanted to let you know that his journal meetup is happening because it will probably happen again! Bring your journal and your favorite supplies and the community will create a shared scrap table filled with paper and little treasures to take, trade, or contribute. "This is the beginning of something special. A new community just for us junk journalers!" 〰️ Oakland Public Library Rockridge Branch 〰️ 2pm-4pm 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
The Night Parade 〰️ Music! Puppets! Lanterns! Costumes! This event has one of the best URLs we've seen in a long time (click on it), and if you want more info you have to call 415-WORD-BUG for updates. This is the kind of mayhem COYOTE loves. 〰️ 5:30pm 〰️ Precita Park, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Food For All Opening Reception 〰️ Artist Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa has a new exhibit going up that "resonates with a mix of rooted local culture while tackling narratives of suppressed reformism." This isn't just an art opening though: It's also a toy, food, and coat drive. Plus, "small (5”x7”) individually painted editions will be sold exclusively for the holidays as a mission to create accessible art for the aspiring collector." 〰️ 6pm 〰️ 3319 Marché, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Culinary Mushroom Camp 〰️ It wouldn't be a COYOTE calendar issue without some kind of mushroom- or lichen-based event, would it? This one is specifically around shrooms you can eat — hiking around West Marin, "searching for porcini, chanterelles, oyster, hedgehog turkey tail and other culinary and medicinal mushrooms." Even if you don't find anything, you'll be treated to a tasting board featuring wild mushrooms and bay laurel nuts afterwards. 〰️ 10am-1pm 〰️ Tomales 〰️ $145 〰️more info
Snail Bar Bon Voyage 〰️ The original chef of this legendary Oakland venue is leaving at the end of January, so come say goodbye at this holiday fair, art exhibit, and party featuring gifts, photo booth, food, wine, art, music, raffles, and more. 〰️ 5pm-10pm 〰️ Snail Bar, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
ASL Walk at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve 〰️ Walk a one-mile loop with park staff and ASL interpreters to learn about the history of the coal mines and surrounding communities. A cool way to learn about the region, and, if you're not a regular ASL user, practice your signing. I, personally, lovethe sign for tree. 〰️ 10am-11:30am OR 1pm-2:30pm 〰️ Black Diamond Mines, Pittsburg 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Writing Poetry From Your Subconscious 〰️ There are three kinds of people — those who fear their subconscious, those who love it, and poets who do both. Come to this workshop to learn how to channel your inner chaos onto the page. Bring something to write with and a mighty internal monologue. 〰️ 11am2pm 〰️ 😷 COVID SAFE masks required & air purifiers running 〰️ Nomadic Bookshop, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Shades of Sugar Pop-Up 〰️ Macaron pop-up! Champagne, Rosemary Tahini, Tokyo Gingersnap, Spiced Chocolate and more on offer here. Can you even wait until Sunday for this? Seems hard! 〰️ 11am-3pm 〰️ Oaktown Spice Shop, Albany 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Borscht Bay: Nitl Nakht Variety Show 〰️ "Unshoulder the bitter yoke of Christian hegemony with a night full of music, dancing, and Yiddish irreverence." This variety show includes puppets, ex-Hasidic himbos, burlesque, Psychoklezmer, an MC named Auntie Semitism, and more. The best kind of Jewish irreverence on display at this one. Masking is encouraged, N-95's will be provided at the door. 〰️ 7pm 〰️ Ashkenaz, Berkeley 〰️ $20 〰️more info
Base Camp Bakery Xmas Eve Bake Sale 〰️ Get yourself a special Christmas Eve treat at this pop-up featuring coffee cake, sourdough conchas, gingerbread, baguettes, dinner rolls, pies, and more. Get me a mole concha please? 〰️ 10am-2pm 〰️ Oken, Oakland 〰️ more info
You can see all of COYOTE's past calendar pickshere. If you have an event you'd like to see on a future COYOTE Calendar, email us at calendar@coyotemedia.org. If you attended and enjoyed any of these events, we'd love to hear about it in the comments!
Reo Eveleth is an award-winning reporter and writer who has covered everything from fake tumbleweed farms to million-dollar baccarat heists. Their work has been nominated for a Peabody, an Emmy, and an Eisner Award.
