COYOTE Calendar: November 27–December 3

Welcome to the COYOTE Calendar. Here are this week's hand picked events, just for you. This week we've got a shorter calendar than usual, as many folks are celebrating the holiday weekend. But if you're not a Thanksgiving kind of guy, we've also got some alternatives for you. Plus, plant swaps, neurodivergent shibari, a COYOTE party, and more. We'll post new events each Wednesday. Go forth and enjoy!

• Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz 〰️ If you want to stick it to Thanksgiving before most people are even out of bed, wake up early (boats leave Pier 33 every 15 minutes from 4:15–6am) to sail to Alcatraz. Spend the morning giving thanks "for the survival of our Peoples, sacred places, cultures and ways of life, and to commemorate the 1969 Alcatraz Occupation that sparked the national and international Indigenous Peoples’ movement for justice, rights and truth in history." 〰️ 4:15am–7:15am 〰️ Alcatraz Island 〰️ $15.50 〰️ more info
• Noisebridge's Hacker Friendsgiving Potluck 〰️ Meet hackers and eat good food, a pretty sweet combination if you ask me. They'll be showing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and (I assume) talking about how they could have made the floats way cooler. Register on Meetup or Lu.ma so they have a head count and bring your favorite dish (there's a dinner grid linked in the event info). 〰️ 11am–2pm 〰️ Noisebridge Hackerspace, SF 〰️ Free or $30 donation 〰️ more info
•  Left on Madeline @ Snail Bar 〰️ Maybe you can't cook. Or maybe you can and you just don't fucking want to! Whatever it is, if you're looking for a place to go eat on Thursday, Snail Bar has your back. "I can’t go home this year so I’m being home to me!" says Left of Madeline's chef Zachary Breaux. There will be gumbo, braised turkey legs, cornbread, the works. 〰️ 2pm–6pm 〰️ Snail Bar, Oakland 〰️ more info

• Refugio Queer Sea Camp 〰️ Okay this one is outside of our usual geographic range at COYOTE but I couldn't resist: there are still spots at this amazing sounding queer sea camp down in Santa Barbara that runs from Nov. 28 through Dec. 1. Here's the application. Four days to "heal, connect, play, rest, rage, learn, grow, grieve, and get wet with the intention of building lasting power in queer community." I wish I could go! 〰️ all day Nov. 28–Dec. 1 〰️ Chumash Marine Reserve, Santa Barbara 〰️ FREE with a $69 deposit (refunded at the end) 〰️ more info
• Barn Owl Service Project 〰️ "Have you ever wondered what a Barn Owl eats?" The answer is not barns. (Sorry, it's a holiday, I'm making even more dad jokes than usual.) But if you head to the park you'll get to find what the owls have left behind as the park preps the boxes for next year. 〰️ 9am–12pm 〰️ Del Valle, Livermore 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Maker's Faire 創客集市 〰️ It's holiday market time, and you're going to find a lot of them on the COYOTE Calendar because they're one of my favorite things in the world. This one — co–presented by Edge on the Square and Chinese Culture Center CCC — focuses on Asian diasporic and local makers, artists and vendors. Hand picked gifts made by someone in your community will go over way better than anything Amazon can provide, I promise. 〰️ 11am–5pm 〰️ Chinatown, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Black Friday General Strike Market 〰️ Fuck Black Friday, long live local artists! Here's another market to check out featuring independent local artists and food vendors. 〰️ 12pm–6pm 〰️ Fox Tale Fermentation Project, Santa Clara 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• F#ck Black Friday Market Fundraiser for StopCopCityBayArea 〰️ Wow yet another opportunity to yell about how much we hate Black Friday and capitalism, all for a good cause!? Indeed! Quartz is hosting an F×ck Black Friday market to shop small local queer businesses in collaboration with StopCopCityBayArea. A percentage from every sale made will help the organization send out mailers to educate the public about their work. 〰️ 12pm–4pm 〰️ Place Community, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Yi Yi (New 4K Restoration) 〰️ A brand new restoration of a masterpiece film is showing at the Roxie. "A film of rare emotional precision and formal grace, YI YI is Edward Yang’s final completed feature and arguably his most beloved—a deeply felt, gently sprawling portrait of three generations of a Taipei family in quiet crisis." 〰️ 5:10pm 〰️ Roxie Theater, SF 〰️ $11.62+ 〰️ more info
• Niles Festival of Lights Parade 〰️ We love a good community parade, and this one is cute as hell. Featuring over 60 unique floats, marching bands, characters, and, naturally, Santa Claus. 〰️ 6pm 〰️ Niles Street, Fremont 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• Fire Ecology: From Ashes to Life 〰️ Shall we celebrate the end of fire season (hopefully) together? How about a guided walk through the burnt hills of Black Diamond Mines? Learn how "native plants and animals have adapted to fire, how changing fire seasons are affecting our open spaces, and how wildfire behavior can be modified through fuels management." 〰️ 9:30am–noon 〰️ Black Diamond Mines, Pittsburg 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
•  West Oakland Tree Planting 〰️ If the holiday has you thinking about what you're thankful for, and the answer is trees, you can help ensure there are more of them! Join the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation and plant some happy little trees. Gloves and shovels will be provided. 〰️ 10am–12:30pm 〰️ Raimondi Park, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• 7th Annual Yuletide Oddities Market 〰️ Perfect for a sunny weekend of oddity shopping for you or for that one friend who likes... weird stuff. (Hello, it's me.) This market is open every Saturday starting the 29th, so if you miss this one you can always go next week. "Admission includes entry to the Oddities Market and gardens w/50+ rotating vendors each week, KRAMPUS, entertainment, PLUS access to tarot, food & libations and more." 〰️ 10am–8pm 〰️ Winchester Mystery House, San Jose 〰️ $5+ 〰️ more info
• Casa de Chocolates Grand Opening 〰️ Come to the Bay Area's very first Latin American–inspired chocolate shop and see what they've got cooking (melting?). And as a bonus, you can get ice cream from De La Creamery at the same time. 〰️ 2pm–6pm 〰️ Casa de Chocolates, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Aku's BBQ @ DTSJ Brewing 〰️ The brain behind Aku's BBQ is trying new things this weekend that you aren't going to want to miss. A surprising take on squid, the lamb chops that they can't keep in stock, and ube and calamansi sours. Bring friends so you can try everything. Or be greedy, we won't tell. 〰️ 5pm–9pm 〰️ DTSJ Brewing, San Jose 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Plantsgiving 〰️ Sip on cocktails and win plants (someone hold me back!!!) at a plant themed–bar's annual Plantsgiving. "Come thirsty, come lucky, and leave with a leafy friend guaranteed to outlast your holiday leftovers. 🌱✨" 〰️ 6pm–11pm 〰️ Propagation, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• Egg Pals @ Mother Tongue 〰️ The tastiest egg sandwiches you've ever had. Do we need to say more? Go get them in front of Mother Tongue, thank us later. 〰️ 9am–1pm 〰️ Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar, Oakland 〰️ cost of sandwiches
• City Gurlz Hike 〰️ Take a trip to a local farm and help weed, tend vegetable beds, and plant for the spring. City Gurlz Hike is an "urban hike and community programming series for BIPOC women to play and connect through nature," and all of the food grown at Alemany Farm is given away for free to neighbors, volunteers, and The Free Farm Stand. 〰️ 11am 〰️ Alemany Farm, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Taco ‘Bout Giving SNAP Benefits Fundraiser 〰️ ​As some of you certainly know, SNAP benefits haven't gone back to normal despite the government shutdown being over. To help in the meantime, Kamu Siapa Kitchen is partnering with Radically Fit to make chorizo tacos and jamaica all day. Come through, get food, and support those helping feed the people. All remaining proceeds will be donated to the Alameda County Community Food Bank! 〰️ 11:30am–4pm 〰️ Radically Fit, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Decolonizing Nature Part II 〰️ How does colonization shape the way we talk about the environment? That's the theme of this talk on decolonizing nature. Bring a writing utensil and a notebook, and be ready to participate in group discussion. 〰️ 12pm–2pm 〰️ Lavender Library, Sacramento 〰️ 😷 COVID SAFE: Masks are required 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Paste Paper Making 〰️ Imagine getting a gift and learning that the person not only selected the perfect thing, but made the wrapping paper too? Well you could be that gift giver this season. Learn how to create decorative paste papers with instructor Alexandra Sarette. 〰️ 1pm–4pm 〰️ Rock Paper Scissors Collective, Oakland 〰️ $33.85 (but if cost is prohibitive, contact them, no one turned away for lack of funds) 〰️ more info
• Unbounded Shibari: A Rope Lab for Neurodivergent Connection 〰️ If you've ever been interested in shibari, but worried that a regular class might now work for your brain, now is the time to thank the stars you live in the Bay Area. "This workshop blends technical refinement, emotional awareness, and self–expression to help you build confidence, creativity, and deeper connection through rope." 〰️ 2pm–5:30pm 〰️ Kinkstore, SF 〰️ $32–48 〰️ more info

• Día de las Velitas: a Colombian Christmas Brunch Celebration 〰️ In Colombia, Dia de las Velitas marks the beginning of the Christmas season, and families gather to light candles, share food, and celebrate community. And now you can join in no matter how Colombian you might be (or not) — plus, a mini market with additional vendors. ¡Reserva la fecha! 〰️ 10am–3pm 〰️ Open Test Kitchen, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• COYOTE x BFF.fm Holiday Party 〰️ [airhorn noises] Come hang out with COYOTE in San Francisco!! We're teaming up with BFF.fm, SF's coolest nonprofit community radio station, to have a little holiday shindig. Live DJ set from DJ NoBe all evening, and a whole lot of baddies to talk to about everything from sound boards to how we can all build a better media ecosystem in the Bay Area. 〰️ 5pm–8pm 〰️ Casements Bar, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Plastic Bodies, Birds, and Breezes at the Border: On Writing Bodily Transformations in Trois Femmes Puissantes’ Migration Narrative 〰️ I'm back at the helm of the COYOTE Calendar which means you're back to getting at least one obscure, esoteric academic talk thrown in here for good fun. This lecture involves a novel I haven't read (Trois Femmes Puissantes) and a concept I've never heard of ("ontologized plasticity,”) but sometimes you want to feel like your brain is oozing out of your ears, you know? In a good way. 〰️ Library of French Thought, 4229 Dwinelle Hall" 〰️ 5pm 〰️ UC Berkeley 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Booksmith presents: We Will Rise Again 〰️ I will actually have to miss our COYOTE party because I'm a part of this event! (Conflict of interest here? Absolutely yes. Consider yourself informed.) I'll be joining the amazing Annalee Newitz, Charlie Jane Anders, Cindy Cohn, Andrea Dehlendorf, and Vida James to discuss our forthcoming short story collection We Rise Again: Speculative Stories and Essays on Protest, Resistance, and Hope. Tickets aren't required, but seats are limited (you're guaranteed to get one if you buy a book!). 〰️ 7pm 〰️ The Booksmith, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
•  Mother/Earth 〰️ Check out this reading and visual arts exhibition “that explores the divine feminine, particularly mother and earth goddesses, and the artists' personal connection to spirituality, the earth and the divine mother.” 〰️ 7pm–9pm 〰️ Medicine for Nightmares, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• Ceramic Charcuterie Board Workshop 〰️ There is no power move quite like serving an incredible charcuterie board on a plate you made with your own two hands. And now you can be that bitch. This class includes all materials, firings & guided instruction on preparing and shaping your slab as well as pinch and marbling techniques. "All pieces will be glazed by us, and ready to pick up in time for entertaining or gifting for end of year holidays!" 〰️ 6pm–8:30pm 〰️ Clay Clubhouse, Oakland 〰️ $100 〰️ more info
• Love Rebels author talk with Kitty Stryker 〰️ Hear author Kitty Stryker talk about her experiences as a community organizer and street medic, and her new book Love Rebels: How I Learned to Burn It Down Without Burning Out — part memoir, part how–to guide to sustainable activism. 〰️ 6:30pm 〰️ Berkeley Public Library, North Branch 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Trans Men 4 Men 〰️ A monthly bathhouse event for trans men "and the cis men who wish them especially well." You know who you are. Enjoy. 〰️ 7pm–3am 〰️ Steamworks 〰️ $10 〰️ 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!