Welcome to the COYOTE Calendar. Here are this week's hand-picked events, just for you. This weekend isFanime Con (Northern California's largest anime convention that is put on by fans) in San Jose; theArt & Wind Festival in San Ramon;Carnival in SF; andPunk in the Bay in Berkeley. Black Birders Week starts on Monday, and there are bird-basedevents all week all across the Bay Area to check out. This week we've also got sea slugs, decay-themed dance parties, two different costume contests, and mountain lions. We'll post new events each Wednesday. Go forth and enjoy!
Poetry Ancestors 〰️ Flex your language muscles with fellow poets interested in ritual, remembrance, and inheritance. Using guided prompts this writing session is all about memory and grappling with those who came before. 〰️ 6–8pm 〰️ The Workshop, Oakland 〰️ $23.18 〰️more info
Bruthas Rising Meetup 〰️ Dedicated to creating a space for trans men and trans masculine folks of color since 2014, Bruthas Rising is a great place to meet folks to connect, organize, and learn from. Come through for this meetup to learn more, hear about upcoming events, trips, and whatever "T-Shirt Day" is. 〰️ 6–8pm 〰️ 1721 Broadway, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Selling The Rainbow: When The Market Adopts & Drops A Movement 〰️ Remember when Doritos did a rainbow pride bag? This to me is the purest symbol of what this talk is about: the ways in which radical symbols have become co-opted by corporations who are doing nothing to help the actual communities who created and fought for those symbols. Stonewall was a riot, and now we have a pride parade full of cops and banks! Come hear a panel of folks tackling these big questions and thinking about “whether the corporate retreat is a crisis, or an opportunity to remember what Pride was actually for.” 〰️ 6:30–8:30pm 〰️ GLBT Historical Society Museum, SF 〰️ $15 (free for GLBT Historical Society Members) 〰️ more info
Crip Ecstasy x Rot Festival 〰️ Forget emerging from the golden chrysalis as a butterfly, it's time to emerge from the bog as a powerful undead cryptid. Party with fellow decomposition divas at this collab between two absurdly cool orgs. 〰️ 7pm–12am 〰️ 😷 COVID SAFE: masks required 〰️ The Stud, SF 〰️ $10-30 sliding scale 〰️more info
Ragamenco 〰️ Come hear what happens when "Indian classical nuance meets the fire of flamenco and jazz, shaped in real time through improvisation and global influences." I'm not going to lie to you: I don't really know what to imagine when I read that. It does sound cool though! So there's only one solution: go to this event and find out. 〰️ 7:30–9pm 〰️ Wyldflowr Arts, Oakland 〰️ $20+ 〰️more info
Trans Bay Area x TSLUR present TSQUARED 〰️ The collab events keep delivering this week; this time, a link up between Trans Bay Area and TSLUR to put on a night of delight featuring four local DJs. 〰️ 8pm–12am 〰️ Thee Stork Club, Oakland 〰️ $10-15 sliding scale, NOTAFLOF* 〰️more info
Aniclover Deluxe 2026 〰️ Maybe instead of a pre-party you are looking for a Fanime afterparty? Well we have that for you too, my good people. Dance your freaky little butts off to anime songs and otaku music either on Thursday, or on Sunday, close enough to the Convention Center that you can keep your fiddly little cosplay costume on and still walk there. 〰️ 8pm 〰️ The Loft, San Jose 〰️ $60–$80 〰️more info
Lez Wrestle: Super Lez Brawl 〰️ Lesbians wrestling. That's it. I don't need to say more because let's be real: You already know whether you want to go or not just based on those two words. But if you need additional intel,here's a video. Come dressed as a video game character and enter the costume contest! 〰️ 9pm–2am 〰️ The Foundry, SF 〰️ $20+ 〰️ more info
Love Talk In Sound, The Bootleg Presto Vinyl Party 〰️ If you want to really get in the right mood for an event, the best way to begin is by setting the sonic scene. Thankfully for Fanimecon attendees, this evening of vinyl from Japan and across the Asian diaspora is the perfect way to do so. 〰️ 9pm–12am 〰️ Nomikai, San Jose 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
I Love Boosters Premier (and Best Dressed Contest) 〰️ Bust out your brightest bolds, your neoniest neons, your clashiest clashing patterns that still somehow work and come see local icon Boots Riley's latest film. Best dressed wins a $250 stipend to shop at Dope Era in Oakland. Stick around after for a Q&A moderated by Niema Jordan of Cinemama with the real boosters. 〰️ 9pm 〰️ Grand Lake Theater, Oakland 〰️ $26.38 (buy your tickets ASAP there aren't many left) 〰️more info
Berkeley Institute Reading Group: Notes from Underground 〰️ School might be out but do not worry your big brain, there are still plenty of opportunities to find folks to read obtuse academic texts within a place with an intimidating, slightly evil-coded name. Come discuss Dostoevsky with your people. This is the first of two sessions, so make sure you can go to both (the second is May 29th, same time and place). 〰️ 12–1:15pm 〰️ Berkeley Institute 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Dreaming Big Youth HIV Community Fair 〰️ This one is specifically for Oakland youth (defined by the organizers as 13-25) to come vibe, make friends, and access resources. Free food, rapid HIV testing, giveaways, speakers, and more. If you need financial support getting there,they can help! "Let’s dream big, stay healthy, and show up for each other 🫶🏾" 〰️ 3:30–7pm 〰️ Edoff Memorial Bandstand, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Furry Punk Mini-Mart 〰️ This is the first of two furry punk markets on the calendar this week! Come to this mini-mart that's a spinoff of the bigger Furry Punk Mart (on Sunday, see below) and check out over thirty vendors, live music, and more. One thing I have learned is thatfurries are genuinely the nicest people in the world so if you're nervous, don't be. 〰️ 4–10pm 〰️ The Prop Shop, Richmond 〰️ $5-10 NOTAFLOF* 〰️more info
Old Oakland's Summer Stroll 〰️ The weather is finally nice and warm and perfect for an evening summer stroll through Old Oakland. Come see local artists and vendors, live music, food, and just general good vibes. 〰️ 5–8:30pm 〰️ Old Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Outsider Books Extravaganza 〰️ Head out to Port Costa for a town wide book yard sale (dreamy!!) where you can pick up all kinds of extremely cool wares from a who’s who of radical publishers and outlets like Oakland Abolition & Solidarity, Bather’s Library, The San Francisco Review of Whatever, Baby Ghost Comics, and more. 〰️ 9am–3pm 〰️ Port Costa 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
Nature Linocut Workshop 〰️ Start with a jaunt through a garden full of blooming native plants, then take that inspiration to the block and create your own linocut block and hand print your own cards. All materials included; no experience necessary. 〰️ 10am–4pm 〰️ Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation 〰️ $140 〰️more info
Pigeon Family Storytime 〰️ At COYOTEwe are on record as being extremely pro-pigeon. Now you can come meet some "ambassador pigeons" (I imagine they will be wearing little hats or badges, a la The Rescuers and if that is not the case nobody tell me) from Palomacy Pigeon Rescue. Hear stories, sing songs, and, most importantly, meet pigeons. 〰️ 10:30–11am 〰️ Berkeley Central Library 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Free Zine Making Workshop 〰️ In this house we believe thatzine making is a load-bearing piece of culture. Everybody can make a zine! Come learn how, at this all-ages workshop on how to design, write, and produce your very own DIY magazine. "You’ll also meet a lot of friendly artsy folks and touch grass and all that… that’s always nice, right?" 〰️ 1–4pm 〰️ Planetarium, Richmond 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Queer Surf's Art Splash 〰️ Every queer friend group must have one earth lover (cottagecore, plant medicine, and/or mushroom identification), one air nerd (etherial, airline mile maxing, and/or weather witch), one ocean expert (surfing, deep sea lore, and/or oyster connoisseur), and one DJ. This event is for the briny babes. Come to this queer ocean art event featuring surfing, swimming, picnicking, birding, art, drag, and more. 〰️ 4pm 〰️ Hare Creek Beach, Fort Bragg 〰️ FREE, please RSVP 〰️more info
Communications Disaster Response 〰️ Radio nerds 🤝 Preppers. Come learn how to be ready to help your community if traditional communication methods break down. Led by local organizers, the Lefty Radio League, and the authors of Compassion in Crisis: Building Disaster-Resilient Communities, this is probably the event that bumps me into finally getting my HAM radio license. 〰️ 5–7pm 〰️ Bathers Library, Oakland 〰️ FREE (but registration required) 〰️more info
Best in Show Closing Reception 〰️ If you haven't made it out to the Best in Show exhibition now is your last chance! Bring your pups (human or non-human) and check out art from this iconic group show at a spacethat is closing up forever. We love art freaks. Go support art freaks. 〰️ 6–9pm 〰️ 😷COVID SAFE: masks required 〰️ Crisis Club, Berkeley 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
A night of mountain lions 〰️ Come experience mountain lions up close in a way that is both safe and ethical: via documentary films. Featuring a presentation from the Living with Lions project and a screening of The Path of Puma-36, a short documentary about the local icon P36! (Although I will say my personal favorite tagged mountain lion is still P22, the inspiration for one of my most beloved recent novellasOpen Throat.) 〰️ 6pm 〰️ Martin Griffin Preserve, Stinson Beach 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Sea Slug Scavenger Hunt 〰️ I am an absolute sucker for nudibranchs — finding one in a tide pool legitimately feels like finding an alien to me. And now you can experience this joy yourself! Join staff from California State Parks and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in the hunt for our pools’ coolest little guys. 〰️ 10am–1pm 〰️ Asilomar Main Beach, Pacific Grove 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Worlds Worst Expo 〰️ My beloved extremely literal bedfellows (hello, autism) the name of this event is a lie. This is NOT the World's worst Expo. In fact, it will be good! I know, the world of marketing is mysterious. Come shop over 250 local small businesses offering up vintage clothing, antiques, home goods, art, food, jewelry, and more! All ages welcome! 〰️ 11am–6pm 〰️ Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Community Conversations for BIPOC 〰️ It's easy to talk about noncarceral politics and logic, restorative justice, and all that. It's much harder, often, to actually implement those ideals in our actual lives and conflicts. Join BIPOC organizers in a workshop and community discussion of how to "allow conflict to generate greater understanding, closeness, and affection rather than tension and division." 〰️ 12–2pm 〰️ 😷COVID SAFE: masks required 〰️ Moments Cooperative & Community Space, Oakland 〰️ $5-20 sliding scale NOTAFLOF 〰️more info
Net Eggroll Eating Contest 〰️ How many egg rolls do you think you could eat in one minute? This event combines core Americana (a timed food eating contest) with Vietnamese diasporic food traditions (eggrolls) and thus feels like a peak Bay Area thing. Someone please send me live updates from this one? 〰️ 12pm 〰️ SJ Eggrolls, San Jose 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Memory Maps: Collage & Assemblage Workshop 〰️ Like linocut, collage is having a moment right now which I am grateful for as I love collage work (side note: I saw somegorgeous collage work recently at theArtists of the African Diaspora show at Rhythmix, so go check that out if you haven't yet). For this event, you can try your hand at collage in this workshop "exploring memory, place, ecology, and storytelling" facilitated by artist Kweli Kitwana 〰️ 12–2pm 〰️ Berkeley Art Center 〰️ sliding scale NOTAFLOF 〰️more info
Punk Furry Mart 5 〰️ If the Punk Furry Mini-Mart whetted your appetite, then you'll really love the main event! Over sixty vendors, live music all day, and, once again, I cannot stress enough, the nicest human beings on the planet. All ages welcome! 〰️ 12–11pm 〰️ Oakland Secret, Oakland 〰️ $5-10 NOTAFLOF* 〰️more info
Ericka Hart Nasty Work Author Talk 〰️ Hear author Ericka Hart talk about how sex ed done right can actually be a tool for liberation. "Nasty Work blends eye-opening research with powerful, poignant personal narrative that disrupts everything you thought you knew about sex and society, offering a liberatory framework that makes pleasure accessible for all." 〰️ 1–3pm 〰️ 2406 Webster St, Oakland 〰️ $5-35 〰️more info
Sun Dial BIPOC Punk Show & Art Market 〰️ Come for the market and tattoos, stay for the punk show! A full day of good, good stuff including local bands like Xtraños, Stuck Here, Jaguar Ride, 55 Castles, and Necia. 〰️ 1–7pm 〰️ Purple House, Oakland 〰️ $10-25 sliding scale NOTAFLOF 〰️more info
Grown N' Thirsty Queer Dance Party for the Over-30 Cuties 〰️ Rememberwhen I told you that this event would sell out? Well it did! If you want to get advice on which tickets to buy in advance, become a paying subscriber and you'll get access to the "Buy Tickets Now" feature at the top of every calendar so that you never miss out on a cool event.
East Bay Baddie Billiards 8-Ball BCA Tournament 〰️ Jointhe coolest group of queer billiards players in the area for a tournament! Bring your best game, or just come to watch and chop it up with the extremely lovely humans who run this group. 〰️ 3pm 〰️ White Horse Inn, Oakland 〰️ $25 buy in 〰️more info
conflict cabaret 〰️ Our second conflict mediation event this week (it's time to learn direct and effective communication y'all!) this one invites people to use play and exploration to move across gaps in understanding and values. "Bring your curiosity. Bring your mess. Invite your friends, lovers, playmates, and conflict partners." 〰️ 4–8pm 〰️ Canticle Farm, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
"Fundi" The story of Ella Baker 〰️ Come learn about a generally unsung and underappreciated organizer of the American civil rights movement. Ella Baker had her hand in nearly everything, including advising and working with W. E. B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, A. Philip Randolph, and Martin Luther King Jr., and earned the title “godmother of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.” 〰️ 6pm 〰️ Moments Cooperative & Community Space, Oakland 〰️ $5-20 NOTAFLOF 〰️more info
Undercurrents 〰️ This one is for my most vibesiest of vibes people: Head into the Redwoods for a soundscape experience featuring spoken word, live painting, sculpture, butoh (a Japanese dance known as The Dance of Darkness) and more. "A portal of light and body, accompanied by spirits moving alongside ambient washes and words from the soul." 〰️ 7pm 〰️ Oakland (location revealed via DM) 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Black Birders Week East Bay Bird Walk 〰️ I'm not going to put all the Black Birders Week stuff on here (there'sa lot going on, although I haven't found one place that lists all the options across the East Bay, so if you have please send it!) but here's one to kick things off: a walk through Towata Park on Alameda, led by wildlife biologist Ayanna Browne. This one is family-friendly, open to all, and if you don't have binoculars don't worry they have some loaners. 〰️ 9am–12pm 〰️ Towata Park, Alameda 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Family Hike at Sugarloaf 〰️ Pack the kids in the car and head out into nature for this family-friendly hike to learn about Sugarloaf Park, its plants, animals, and history. This walk is docent-led, so you're getting expert info! Bring sunscreen, water, and a snack and wear shoes that can handle a little slippery/muddy spots. 〰️ 10am–12pm 〰️ Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood 〰️ FREE, RSVP required 〰️more info
Block Printing Workshop for Teens 〰️ Another week, another cool linocut event! This one is specifically for teens. Get that carve, ink, stamp on my friends! Go home with a custom-printed bandana. No experience needed, just bring your ideas and excitement. 〰️ 10am–1pm 〰️ Colorspace Arts, El Cerrito 〰️ $75 〰️more info
SF Eagle Memorial Day BBQ 〰️ Come to this meat4meat BBQ at SF's leading leather bar. There will be cheap eats, cheap drinks, and plenty of beef. 〰️ 2pm 〰️ SF Eagle 〰️more info
Nowhere 2 Sleep 〰️ Join organizers in SF and Oakland as they pressure both city governments for better policies around housing and resist the recent wave of changes that haveclosed shelters while continuing to conduct sweeps targeting our neighbors living on the streets. 〰️ 10:30am (Oakland) and 12pm (SF) 〰️ SF and Oakland City Halls 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Foraged Tea Tasting 〰️ Did you know that you can make tea out of local wild herbs and mushrooms? Maybe this seems obvious but I didn’t really know that! To learn more join forager Cindy for a pop up tea tasting & discussion of foraging in the Bay Area, including what to forage right now and how to do so ethically. Plus, you’ll get to sample some freshly foraged herbs! 〰️ 6-8pm 〰️ Far Leaves Tea, Berkeley 〰️ $22-44 sliding scale / NOTAFLOF 〰️ more info
Antarctic macroalgal forests: species interactions and impacts of changing ice 〰️ "Don’t let anyone tell you that there are no forests in Antarctica." Apparently the Antarctic is home to a rich community of seaweeds that are a core part of the ecosystem and especially important to small crustaceans. This is an ecosystem that so few even think about, so come learn about this fascinating, threatened slice of Earth. 〰️ 11am–12pm 〰️ Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Stop the Bleed: Lifesaving Course 〰️ I recently was lucky enough to get this training and while it's awful to think about needing it, it's better to be prepared for the worst. Learn how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and what you can do to help. Go home with new knowledge and a free Stop the Bleed kit. 〰️ 6–7:30pm 〰️ West Oakland Public Library 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Yesteryear Book Talk 〰️ All my book groups are talking about Yesteryear right now. And when you hear about the premise of the novel, you'll probably understand why: "A traditional American woman, a beautiful wife and mother who sells her pioneer lifestyle of raw milk and farm-fresh eggs to her millions of social media followers, suddenly awakens cold, filthy, and terrified in the brutal reality of 1855—where she must unravel whether this living nightmare is an elaborate hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister." Come hear author Caro Claire Burke discuss her debut novel. 〰️ 6pm 〰️ Book Passage Corte Madera 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Feminist Book Club: Ducks 〰️ Meet up with fellow Napa feminists at this Feminist Book Club to discuss Kate Beaton’s graphic novel Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. If you've never read Ducks this is my chance to say: go read it, even if you're not going to attend this event. It's so good. Bonus points if you attend this event and discuss with fellow readers! 〰️ 6:30–7:30pm 〰️ Napa Bookmine 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
AI and Empire Building 〰️ Some of the smartest voices in AI will be on this panel talking about the ways in which AI is not only generating awful content, or polluting the world, or writing the most annoying Linkedin posts, but also, you know, perpetuating cycles of colonialism and violence. Wendy Liu, Alex Hanna, Tamara Kneese, and Elizabeth Travelslight discuss AI's role in capturing wealth at the expense of the most marginalized. 〰️ 7:30pm 〰️ 518 Valencia, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️more info
Art Battle 〰️ Competitive painting! Artists get 20 minutes to paint something, the audience votes, there's a bracket, andif the videos are to be believed, a lot of screaming and cheering. Part of me loves this and part of me is horrified so yes, I will be there. 〰️ 7pm 〰️Public Works, SF 〰️ $21–$27 〰️more info
SCUFF Western Prom 〰️ All the hottest queers are line dancing these days. And now, you can join them at their first-ever prom! This year's theme is "new wave, electroclash, Nagel painting synth dreams, fog machine video vixens, post-punk romance." Come dance, take pics, chat up a cutie, have a grand ol' time. 〰️ 8pm–12am 〰️ Verdi Club, SF 〰️ $20 in advance; $25 at the door 〰️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.
