COYOTE Calendar: July 30-August 5

Welcome to the COYOTE Calendar. Here are this week's hand picked events, just for you.

This Friday is our first-ever COYOTE Happy Hour! Come meet the team, talk about coops, journalism, what's cool (and uncool) in the Bay right now, and other good stuff. We'll be at Double Standard in Oakland from 5 to 7, and may or may not have some sick stickers and tote bags with us. I'll be there with a calendar-related surprise.

This weekend is the Firefly Conference, which looks wonderful and very useful for trans youth and the people who love them. You can also go check out old beep boops at the Vintage Computer Festival, some new bits and bobs at the Renegade Craft market, and some surprising bings and bongs at the Outer Roominations art festival.

We’ve also got alien costumes, several forms of magic, bratwurst throwing, Yiddish puppetry, and something described as “intelligent, leaky, erotic, and alive.”

• Beginning Breaking Dance Class 〰️ I firmly believe it is never too late to start a new hobby. And if you've always been curious about breakdancing but terrified to try spinning around on some old cardboard, don't worry — you can start here. This is a beginner-friendly class focusing on the stuff before the headspins — "top rocks, footwork, freezes, and creating sets from those moves." 〰️ 7-8:30pm 〰️ Homebass, Oakland 〰️ donation based NOTAFLOF* 〰️ more info
• We Are Neighbors Together::The Harrison 〰️ For the past year, artist Sue Mark and photographer Monique Blodgett have been working in collaboration with the residents of the Harrison Hotel to create a series of murals that document their stories of displacement, resilience and transformation. Along with serving as the launch party for this project, this event will also be providing free meals and produce from the Self Help Hunger Program. 〰️ 12-3pm 〰️ Oakland Lowdown 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Wonderland Rejects, Hollow Minds, Gusset benefit show for the Transgender Cultural District 〰️ Rock for a good cause with these three Bay Area queer bands at this benefit show raising money for the Transgender Cultural District's Riot Fund, designed to support trans led organizations and businesses. Dance, punch the air, and cry with these bands. Sometimes all three at once. You do you. 〰️ 7:30pm 〰️ El Rio, SF 〰️ $15 〰️ more info
• Womb Wetware Opening Night 〰️ Over a decade ago I was at a biohacker party and I blew some dudes' minds by talking about how pregnancy and birth control actually work. IUDs are bodyhacking, and tons of people have them. If you're interested in the wet, weird, and unruly world of feminist biohacking, check out Jiabao Li's series exploring "the reproductive body as ancient wetware: intelligent, leaky, erotic, and alive." 〰️ 7-9pm 〰️ tiat (the intersection of art & technology), SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• The Scratch 〰️ For all South Bay folks looking for a radical community of art makers (defined very broadly), here's a meetup to checkout. Bring your supplies, or just yourself, to this community art and jam sesh. You're also welcome to bring "the need to scream in a socially acceptable setting." Whomst amongst us doesn't have some of that laying around? 〰️ 😷 COVID SAFE: masks required 〰️ 7-10pm 〰️ San Jose Peace & Justice Center 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• COYOTE Happy Hour!!! 〰️ Come hang out with the COYOTE team! This will be super low key so come through any time to say hi, chop it up, drop your story ideas, and meet your favorite writers and editors. 〰️ 5-7pm 〰️ Double Standard, Oakland 〰️ FREE
• Rent Party 〰️ Every fucking month the rent comes!? Terrible. Help Next Round pay theirs while enjoying pole and burlesque performances by Medusa and Latasha Ruby, food, music, and good vibes for a good cause. 〰️ 6pm 〰️ 〰️ Next Round, Oakland 〰️ FREE (but bring money to tip and donate) 〰️ more info
• COSMOCON 〰️ One of my favorite nerdy nights of the year in the Bay Area is upon us! Dress in your finest alien garb and get ready to party with fellow cosmocrazies. There will be live music, a sci-fi cantina, a costume contest, and just generally impeccable vibes. I won't make it this year because I'll be at the COYOTE meetup, so if you do go please do me proud! 〰️ 6-10pm 〰️ Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland 〰️ $24 〰️ more info
• Brat + Bratwurst Summer 💚🌭 〰️ Celebrate the two genders: Charli xcx and Bratwurst. Catch a dog, debate whether her latest album cover was photoshopped, and dance your little heart out. Plus, a Charli xcx lookalike contest, a Y2K popup, airbrush art, temporary tattoos (cowards), beer pong, and more. This is one of the street parties that is allowed, unlike the ones that are... apparently not. 〰️ 4pm 〰️ 240 Front Street, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• Reggae Down the River Tubing 〰️ Every year the Bay Area adventure club Club Urban Diversion hosts a lazy river tubing day down the Russian River, and that time has come! This is an easy river event, no rapids to navigate, just chill floating with your pals, old and new. 〰️ all day 〰️ Russian River, Guerneville 〰️ $24-36, must be a member of Club Urban Diversion to attend 〰️ more info
• Community Release of the Right to Thrive Report + push for Tenant Protections 〰️ Hear from Vallejo tenants, tenant organizers across the Bay Area, and local leaders who are standing with tenants about issues of housing justice in Vallejo as they come together to mark the public release of a report on housing in the city. "This is a moment for Vallejo tenants and allies to stand together, share truth, and build collective power." 〰️ 1-3pm 〰️ Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Community-access Hiking Day at Martin Griffin Preserve 〰️ Wander this scenic and beautiful 1,000-acre preserve that is normally closed to public access. There will be folks from the preserve on hand to answer questions and offer suggestions if you want, but mostly you're free to take your own path and choose your own adventure. Bring a picnic, don't forget binoculars, and take in a glorious, rarely experienced place. 〰️ 9:30am-4:00pm 〰️ Martin Griffin Preserve, Stinson Beach 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• East Richmond Heights Art and Music Festival 〰️ Music, food, art, and family-friendly activities abound at this cute little neighborhood fair that’s been going for seven years now! At the very least you can scowl at the Chevron booth that will inevitably be on hand. 〰️ 11am-5pm 〰️ Bernhard Avenue in front of the Gyuto Monastery, Richmond 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Temescal Open Edible Garden Day 〰️ I am loving this trend of neighborhood garden showcases? We had one on the calendar last week, and this week it's Temescal whose front, back, and side yards are open to explore. Meet the green thumbs, learn about their methods and plans, and in some cases even taste some treats! 〰️ 10am-4pm 〰️ Temescal District, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Jack London's Footsteps: Historical Walking Tour 〰️ My skepticism about any kind of "neighborhood improvement board" is warring with my love of historic walking tours here! I will be real with you and say that I don't know if The Jack London Improvement District is a force for good or evil, so do with this event what you will, but you can hear an expert in Oakland history talk about this particular slice of the town and its "early life, the history of Oakland's Produce District, the impact of the transcontinental railroads, and the evolution of the Port of Oakland." 〰️ 11am-12:15pm 〰️ Jack London Square, Oakland 〰️ FREE (but RSVP to save your spot) 〰️ more info
• Summer Stack 〰️ Last weekend, COYOTE posted up at Faction Brewing for the Rock and Roll Flea Market. This weekend the brewery is hosting another rad event featuring over 70 local makers and vendors selling handmade goods, stationery art, comic books, original paintings and so much more. Plus, a series of really cool workshops including poster screenprinting, portraits, linocut stamps, and 3d printing. 〰️ 12-6pm 〰️ Faction Brewing, Alameda 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Working Women's Support Group 〰️ Revolution almost always begins with conversations and community. Join the Revolutionary Women's Committee Bay Area chapter for this meetup of working women of all professions to discuss working conditions, living conditions, struggles, successes, and plans. Food and childcare are provided at this one. Come as you are and get plugged into this network of women. 〰️ 2-4pm 〰️ San Antonio Park, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Bay Area Derby Summer Slam 〰️ We've already covered all the reasons roller derby should probably become your new favorite sport. If you're looking for something to fill the World Cup hole, head to the track and see incredible athleticism and way less rolling around and pretending to be on the brink of death. Messi wouldn't last seven seconds on the track. 〰️ 4-9pm 〰️ Richmond Memorial Auditorium, Richmond 〰️ $25-35 〰️ more info
• Bay Area Tenant And Neighborhood Councils Clothing Swap 〰️ Gather up those clean clothes you don't wear anymore and come swap them for new ones! Anything left over will be donated to the Omni Free Store. And while you're there, chat with the folks organizing tenants about how you can get involved. 〰️ 4-7pm 〰️ Lovely's, Oakland 〰️ FREE (bring clothes to swap) 〰️ more info
• The Town Social 〰️ Have y'all heard about the LAMA Shack? It's all over my feeds right now as the coolest hidden backyard venue in Oakland, and now you can see what the deal is for yourself. DJs will spin, the house band will hold it down, and special guests will light it up. Don't be late. 〰️ 5pm 〰️ The LAMA Shack, Oakland 〰️ FREE ($20 suggested donation) 〰️ more info
• Celebrate 50 Years of Dark Carnival 〰️ Any business that survives five years of operation should celebrate, but 50 years!? That's how long Dark Carnival has been peddling their spooky wares. Come celebrate and share your favorite memories of the store. To 50 more years. 〰️ 5-7pm 〰️ Dark Carnival Books, Berkeley 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• 5th Annual Black Futures Ball 〰️ Since 2015, the East Oakland Youth Development Center has put over $850,000 directly into the scholarships for more than 300 young people from Oakland. Help them continue that amazing legacy through this very cool party. This year's theme is "Ancestral Intelligence," and believe me when I tell you that people will be bringing the looks. 〰️ 6pm 〰️ Bloc 15, Oakland 〰️ $66+ 〰️ more info
• Blaq at Lake Merritt → THE AFTER PARTY presented by BlaqOutside 〰️ This one is specifically for Black queer folks. Start your day at Lake Merritt grooving to music, learning new knots, and shopping from community vendors. Then head over to Golden Ratio for the afterparty with a killer DJ lineup. 〰️ party at Lake Merritt 12-8pm, afterparty 9pm-2am 〰️ Lake Merritt → Golden Ratio, Oakland 〰️ $5 early, $10-20 at the door, NOTAFLOF* 〰️ more info
• Color As Creation: Natural Dye 101 〰️ Ocean Escalanti is doing three of these workshops, and this is the first one (more on the other two here). Learn about which local Bay Area plants can be used to create beautiful dyes, and how to harvest them sustainably, process, and use them. 〰️ 1-3pm 〰️ Bayview SFPL Branch 〰️ FREE but you have to call on the phone to reserve a spot (415) 355-5757. I believe in you! You can make a phone call!〰️ more info
• AAPI On The Bay 〰️ Celebrate AAPI culture and heritage at this party on Treasure Island. Featuring over 40 vendors, performances (including the Haka and Filipino folk dances), special drinks, great views, and more. 〰️ 2-8pm 〰️ Gold Bar Distillery, Treasure Island 〰️ $17.85 (kids under 4 free) 〰️ more info
• 2026 World Dog Surfing Championships 〰️ DOGS SURFING! I REPEAT, DOGS SURFING! Finally we will get an answer to the millennia-old question: Who let the dogs out (to surf)? We did, and we have no regrets. Come watch these incredible buddies ride the waves better than you ever will. There will also be a “beach dog fashion & costume contents” and adoptable dogs on hand in case you’re looking for a new best friend. 〰️ 9:20am-1:30pm 〰️ Pacifica State Beach 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Bay Day 〰️ If you've ever wondered what a buoy that has been sitting out in the San Francisco Bay for a whole year looks like (an oddly specific thing to wonder but also a very good question), now you can find out! Come meet all the little guys who have made their home on the buoy, safely return them to the sea, and help marine biologists clean the surface so it can go back to work. 〰️ 11am-4pm 〰️ The Exploratorium, SF 〰️ $40 〰️ more info
• tarot & tea magic brunch 〰️ Sour Cherry's "resident witch" Maya Songbird will be on hand all afternoon to dispense all kinds of mystical wisdom: reading tarot, giving candle color consultations and other witchy advice. Sip some tea and gaze into the future. 〰️ 2-4pm 〰️ Sour Cherry Comics, SF 〰️ $15-55 sliding scale 〰️ more info
• The Big Buffet In The Sky 〰️ Humans have had their turn. It's time to cede control to non-human animals. That's the future that artist Andrea Bergen imagines in this immersive and intense new art show featuring over forty new works including cut-paper collages and paper mache sculptures that depict a surreal picture of a realm that has entirely gone to the birds. 〰️ 6-9pm 〰️ Moth Belly Gallery, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• The Day Club PT II 〰️ Lay back, float, and vibe at this day party featuring DJs, craft cocktails, and a whole lot of lounging. No kids splashing around at this one, only baddies who know the joys of bottle service. 〰️ 1-6pm 〰️ The Club at Los Gatos 〰️ $40-120 〰️ more info
• Pizza Party: Neurodiverse Universe Turns 3! 〰️ It can be hard to find community no matter who you are, but especially challenging for neurodiverse folks. Thankfully, there's already a group that totally understands what spoons are and what happens when you run out of them. For the last three years Neurodiverse Universe has been meeting up and building friendships, and you can join them! 〰️ 2-5pm 〰️ Wheelhouse, San Jose 〰️ $15 〰️ more info
• Figure Drawing Social 〰️ Here's a great way to meet and hang out with some organizers in the South Bay: Community Service Organization (CSO) San Jose, an org dedicated to fighting for Chicane and immigrant rights in San Jose, is having a fun little drawing session. People will take turns modeling for one another, hang out, and sketch it up. Bring your own supplies if you can, they'll have a limited amount to provide but not a ton. 〰️ 3-5:30pm 〰️ Emma Prusch Park, San Jose 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• A Language of Stitches: The Radical Quilts of Rosie Lee Tompkins with Constance Moore 〰️ Quiltmaking has an incredible history that blends politics and craft, and now you can learn more about one of the Bay Area's very own innovators in the world of radical quilting: Rosie Lee Tompkins. Tompkins's story is absolutely incredible, and now artist, educator, and illustrator Constance Moore has captured it in a new picture-book biography of her. 〰️ 1:30pm 〰️ BAMPFA, Berkeley 〰️ $18 (museum admission) 〰️ more info
• Der Goylem: A Yiddish Puppet Spectacle 〰️ I'm just going to quote the flyer directly on this one: "This show marries Yiddish puppetry with large-scale protest puppet theater, a revolutionary politic with irreverent faggotry." Get your fix of both puppets and Klezmer at what sounds like an incredible show. NOTE: The evening show is already sold out, so if you want to go get your ticket now! 〰️ 😷 COVID SAFE: masks required 〰️ 2-6pm 〰️ Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland 〰️ $20-38 NOTAFLOF* 〰️ more info
• Cosmic Witch Market 〰️ Send out the bats to all your witchiest friends: this special market only happens once a year and they aren't going to want to miss it. A whole afternoon full of witchy artisanal goodies, along with tarot readings, astrology, henna, and sound healing. Plus beer and pizza from the brewery. Commune with your friends and their favorite ghosts. 〰️ 12-5pm 〰️ Gilman Brewing, Berkeley 〰️ FREE but please RSVP for the time you're coming 〰️ more info
• San Francisco Firebells vs Boston Hunters Watch Party 〰️ Have you heard that the Bay Area just got a professional women’s baseball team!? Exciting stuff. The thing that most of the coverage didn’t say is that the league is playing its first season in Illinois so… you can’t actually go to games. (Ask me how I feel about the marketing of this when you come to our meetup on Friday.) But you can get together with other women’s sports fans and watch the game! 〰️ 4:30pm 〰️ Xingones, Oakland 〰️ more info
• Fidget Camp 2026 Showcase 〰️ Fidget Camp is what happens when actually cool and fun tech people (they do exist!) get together and play around and teach each other things like "edible engineering," "laser holograms," and "glowy origami." And after a week of them sharing their skills and inspirations, the rest of us get to see what weird shit (complimentary) they made at a public expo. This event is always fun and surprising! 〰️ 1-6pm 〰️ Pebblebed, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• BYOB*EDAZZLE 〰️ I'm calling it now: Bedazzling is coming back. Buckle up, stretch your finger tendons, and get ready to bling the shit out of your stuff. And here's a good place to start: Bring your own item, and they'll provide the sparkle. (Side note: BeDazzle™️ corporate overlords, do you want to sponsor COYOTE?) 〰️ 6-9pm 〰️ Out of the Barrel, Campbell 〰️ $17.85 〰️ more info

• Matcha Showdown 〰️ Calling all matcha fanatics! It’s time to really double down on your knowledge and appreciation for this beloved ingredient. Featuring mooncakes from Little Moon Bakehouse, ice cream from Uji Time Dessert and lattes from Caffeine Depot. ingredient. 〰️ 7pm 〰️ The Commons at KQED, SF 〰️ $30 〰️ more info

• All My Dead Cats and Other Losses: Practicing Good Grief in a Culture That Fears Mourning Book Event 〰️ COYOTE friend s.e. smith is coming to Alameda to talk about their new book about death, American culture, mourning, and, surprisingly, joy. As they told Soleil Ho earlier this year: "I want people to understand that grief is complicated, that it's more than literal death, that it's cultural, and that pretending loss hasn't happened is not going to work for you." 〰️ 6:30-7:30pm 〰️ Books Inc., Alameda 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• BOUNCE: Changing the Game - The Rise of Professional Women's Sports 〰️ KALW is bringing their sports podcast back and talking all things (women’s) ball. Hear from COYOTE contributor Maya Goldberg-Safir, along with a bunch of other great people about the past, present, and future of women’s basketball. 〰️ 7-8:30pm 〰️ KALW, SF 〰️ $12+ NOTAFLOF* 〰️ more info

You can see all of COYOTE's past calendar picks here. 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!

*NOTAFLOF = No One Turned Away For Lack Of Funds