On a family trip, our reporter finds California and Central America’s unofficial twin cities are both overlooked and misunderstood — with incredible food and culture hiding in plain sight.
Welcome to the COYOTE Calendar. Here are this week's hand-picked events to help unravel your persistent, nagging election week shoulder tightness.
Put on your dancing shoes for a free punk-meets-electronic show at YBCA, stretch out underneath the redwoods for outdoor painting with a local art collective, and tap into your imagination at Berkeley Public Library's third annual Comic Con.
Go forth and enjoy!
Sanctuary Homes Training 〰️ A remote training from Bay Resistance on creating a safe and fair environment in your home for immigrant domestic workers. This will include a know-your-rights training and information on how to organize in your community. 〰️ 6-7pm 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
Concert at YBCA 〰️ Drift through the YBCA galleries beginning at 5 p.m., then settle in for a show from the polymath punk artist and filmmaker Brontez Purnell and artist Erica Dawn Lyle, whose songs are described as "churning" and "looming." 〰️ 7pm 〰️ YBCA 〰️ San Francisco 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
Gilman Block Party 〰️ A weekly First Friday party at the Gilman wine block. Food, wine, and family-friendly outdoor fun. Organizers recommend bringing a jacket as the weather gets chillier! 〰️ 3pm–8pm 〰️ Hammerling Wines 〰️Berkeley 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
Oakland First Friday 〰️ Music, art, and giving back to the Town. Between Nov. 7 and December 12, Oakland First Fridays is also collecting new and gently used coats for a winter coat drive. If you can't make it to the Friday street festival, you can drop off coats between 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, at 2633 Suite 109, Telegraph Ave. 〰️ 5pm–9:30pm 〰️ Telegraph Avenue between West Grand Avenue and 27th Street 〰️ Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
Día de Los Muertos Drag Show with Per Sia 〰️ The closing of this year’s Día de Los Muertos exhibition at Soma Arts with an evening of drag and remembrance curated by San Francisco's new drag laureate, Per Sia. There will be an an artist market and performances from new and returning drag artists "embodying love and queer resilience." 〰️ 6pm–9pm 〰️ Soma Arts 〰️ San Francisco 〰️ $15 suggested 〰️ more info
Tamarack Friday Night Readings 〰️ A poetry night featuring Nino Claveria, Jamie Townsend, Stephanie Young, followed by a show with Gumby's Junk, Whine, and The Wameki. 〰️ reading at 6pm, music at 7pm 〰️ Tamarack 〰️ Oakland 〰️ more info
Caballo Blanco Against ICE 〰️ A Latinx dance party and drag show featuring performances by an all-migrant cast, presented by Chillonas and Sabes Que. 〰️ 10pm 〰️ White Horse Inn 〰️ Oakland 〰️ $10 presale, $15 door 〰️ more info
Berkeley Public Library Comic Convention 〰️ The third annual comic con at the Berkeley Central Library, featuring an all-day, all-ages celebration of comics, graphic novels, art, and storytelling. Featuring a vendor hall, cosplay, hands-on workshops, and panels, like the "Riot G*rls of Comics: Hard Femmes Speaking Hard Truths," and "Living While Black: Portraits of Everyday Resistance" and book sales and signings by Eastwind Books. 〰️ 10:30am–4pm 〰️ 2090 Kittredge St. 〰️ Berkeley 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
La Cocina’s San Francisco Street Food Festival 〰️ The return of a beloved two-day street food festival, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary with over 25 restauranteurs, live music, arts and crafts by local artisans, cooking demos, family-friendly activities, and more. 〰️ 11am–8pm, Nov. 8 & 11am–6pm Nov. 9 〰️ China Basin Park 〰️ San Francisco 〰️ starting at $12 〰️ more info
Empty Bowls Fundraiser 〰️ Soup, ceramics, and solidarity to support Mandela Partners, championing food security in Oakland, and Lideres Campesinas, an organization strengthening leadership of farmworker women and families. All attendees will receive a handmade bowl, sourced from 100 Bay Area artists. 〰️ 12pm to 4pm 〰️ 3090 King St. 〰️ Berkeley 〰️ $35-$55 〰️ more info
Legacy Youth Day Event 〰️ An all-day youth event and showcase of art and writing about legacy, and what young people want for the future of their neighborhood. Music, food, drinks, games, screen-printing and more. Live performances by Tongo Eisen-Martin, Equipto, and more. 〰️ 12pm–5pm 〰️ 2070 Mission St. 〰️ San Francisco 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
Show Up For Oakland 〰️ An all-day music gathering for connection, joy, and activation. Live bands, DJs, vendors, and local anti-imperialist, abolitionist, and mutual aid organizations. Proceeds from ticket sales and screen-printed merch will go toward groups organizing direct support for migrant students and unhoused neighbors. 〰️ 3pm–12am 〰️ Oakland Secret 〰️ Oakland 〰️ $10 〰️ more info
Indian Destroys the Cupboard 〰️ An all-indigenous drag show at Understory celebrating Indigenous People's Month, by Love Despite the Apocalypse. KN/N-95s required. Mutual aid raffle and all indigenous vendors. 〰️ 5pm–9pm 〰️ 3340 International Blvd. 〰️ Oakland 〰️ $5-$25 (no one turned away for lack of funds) 〰️ more info
Egg Tarts 〰️ A pop-up with freshly baked pastries and snacks, and some of the tastiest Chinese-style egg tarts you'll ever have in your life. Prepared with love by Year of the Snake, a mother-daughter duo. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 〰️ Morell's Bread 〰️ Berkeley 〰️ more info
Boogie Brunch 〰️ The first-ever Boogie Brunch at Understory, a worker-owned co-op and restaurant, featuring shmackin' Filipino fusion favorites, delicious brunch plates, and a tasty drink menu. Several DJ sets to keep you dancing in your seat while you make room for the next bite. 〰️ 11am to 3pm 〰️ 3340 International Blvd. 〰️ Oakland 〰️ more info
Worn Wear Repair Pop-Up 〰️ Patagonia is offering some TLC for your favorite clothing that needs a repair – any brand, one garment per person. You can also learn repair skills to score free gear. Snacks and refreshments provided. 〰️ 11am to 4pm 〰️ 770 North Point 〰️ San Francisco 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
Outdoor Painting 〰️ Draw still life at the Woodminister Cascade with members of the Underpainting Collective. Bring your own art materials, a snack, sunscreen, and layers. 〰️ 1pm–4pm〰️3540 Sanborn Dr. 〰️ Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info + day-of updates
History of the Bay Day 〰️ The third annual festival to celebrate Bay Area hip-hop culture, created by rapper, graffiti artist and podcast host Dregs One. Live performances, DJs, artists, dancers, vendors and more. 〰️ 2pm–8pm 〰️ White Horse Inn 〰️ Oakland 〰️ Tickets start at $40 〰️ more info
Japanese Whisky 101 〰️ A beginner- and intermediate-friendly course to answer all your burning questions. The seminar will cover history, production, and current trends, along with a guided tasting tour with five Japanese whiskies. 〰️ 3pm to 4pm 〰️ Umami Mart 〰️ Oakland 〰️ $70 〰️ more info
Midwest Comfort Foods 〰️ Popup chef @emsneverfull is inviting diners to indulge in full-fat treats that feel like "a warm hug from the inside," paired with music and revelry. 〰️ 5pm–9pm 〰️ Studio Aurora 〰️ San Francisco. Featuring a lineup from the talented DJs at Fault Radio. 〰️ more info
The Rise of AI Psychosis 〰️ As part of a lecture series on niche subjects at bars, author and former journalist Jacob Ward will dive into what happens when our minds meet machines, and become addicted. 〰️ 6:30pm 〰️ Mad Oak Bar N' Yard 〰️ Oakland 〰️ $25 〰️ more info
From Seed to Tortilla 〰️ A workshop on nixtamalization, the traditional maize preparation process, hosted by Bolita Masa and Sol Root, which grew the corn for the workshop last year. Participants will get to make and eat fresh tortillas, and receive corn seeds to take home 〰️ 6:30pm–8:30pm 〰️ Tacos Oscar 〰️ Oakland 〰️ Sliding scale $20-90 〰️ more info
Laundry Tales 〰️ Lynne Sachs will be screening her film The Washing Society and sharing a recently published handbook, A Manual on Performance, Process, and the Labor of Laundry. 〰️7 pm–9:30 pm 〰️ Shapeshifters Cinema 〰️ Oakland 〰️ $10 〰️ more info
The Wednesday Bite with Black Cultural Zone 〰️A midday escape featuring rotating popup vendors in Downtown Oakland. This can be your quick and tasty lunch, and a chance to step out of the office (even on a drizzly afternoon, you have to eat.) 〰️ 11am–5pm 〰️ 1955 Broadway Ave. 〰️ Oakland 〰️ more info
MOCHA at the Library 〰️A monthly art workshop for kids (ages 5–15) and caregivers led by teachers from the Museum of Children's Art. These workshops aim to build creativity, social-emotional, and academic skills through art. 〰️ 1:15pm–2:45pm 〰️ Martin Luther King Jr. Branch 〰️ Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info.
