COYOTE Calendar: October 23-29

Welcome to the COYOTE Calendar. Here are this week's hand-picked events, just for you. This week we've got explosions, astronauts, murder mysteries, roller derby, and more. We'll post new events each Wednesday.

The Latino Film Festival is happening this weekend and we couldn't pick just one program. Check out the whole calendar here. Another cool thing going on nearby is the Clockwork Alchemy conference, which is "Steampunk’s more magically-inclined cousin," happening in Redwood City. Scrap SF is doing a several-day specialty pop-up market that I'm drooling over. We went a little ham with events for Saturday (17!) so if you can't find something to do from that list, we're not sure we can help you. (And if that’s the case, please send your complaints to orb@oaklandreviewofbooks.org.) Saturday is also your last chance to nominate someone for Monster High Prom.

Go forth and enjoy!

• Tamarack Oakland Worker Organizing Happy Hour 〰️ Comrades, coworkers, and organizers unite at this monthly solidarity-special event (every fourth Thursday). "Talk shop, work through organizing strategies, and get drunk on discount (discounts on drinks will be available to all who indicate interest in workplace organizing to the bartender—ACCESS CODE: NOBOSS)" 〰️ 6pm 〰️ Tamarack, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2025 〰️ bryant terry and Luke Tsai in conversation about the newly released The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2025 — a collection of the best pieces on food and travel as selected by terry himself. 〰️ 6:30pm 〰️ Omnivore Books, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Explosivity and Whatever 〰️ What can explosions tell us about a region's geography? According to Javier Arbona-Homar, author of Explosivity, quite a lot. Arbona-Homar speaks with Elisabeth Nicula (editor of the San Francisco Review of Whatever) about "the hidden legacies of violence that have shaped the physical and cultural environment of the Bay Area." 〰️ 7pm 〰️ Bathers Library, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Photographer Richard Misrach and Rebecca Solnit on global trade 〰️ Join photographer Richard Misrach — whose new book Cargo features photos of cargo ships coming in and out of the Port of Oakland — and writer and activist Rebecca Solnit for "a timely meditation on the profound impact of global trade on the environment." 〰️ 7:30pm 〰️ Sydney Goldstein Theatre, SF 〰️ $49 〰️ tickets
• Astronauts, Etc. w/ Mare and Tricky FM 〰️ Come celebrate a new EP and LP released this year, which "sit together in reflection of the dissonant efforts to reconcile our embodied and projected selves." Infectious piano-driven indie electro-pop at one of the last great small venues in SF (in our opinion). 〰️ 8pm 〰️ Bottom of the Hill, SF 〰️ $20 〰️ tickets

• Rave into the Future 〰️ We're suckers for a dance party at a museum. Artists whose work is in the gallery will be there, and there will be a performance on a copper dance floor. Then you yourself can dance along to DJ sets. 〰️ 5:30pm 〰️ Asian Art Museum, SF 〰️ $30 〰️ tickets
• Vino & Vinyl 〰️ The world lost a legend last week when D'Angelo died. Celebrate his legacy with this evening of appreciation for the singer. "From Brown Sugar to Voodoo to Black Messiah, we’ll trace his genius through the needle, one groove at a time. Expect curated vinyl listening sessions, guided moments of conversation." 〰️ 7pm–11pm 〰️ Couchdate, Oakland 〰️ FREE but RSVP is required and they do sell out 〰️ RSVP
• Murder on the Dance Floor 〰️ ​Have you ever wanted to solve a murder? Or maybe do one? Well now you can (at least fictionally) at this murder mystery experience. "This is a true murder mystery experience—every guest gets a role! No matter your experience level, everyone’s welcome and we’ll be guiding you every step of the way to make this fun." 〰️ 7pm 〰️ Rhythm Section Art Lounge 〰️ $40/$48 〰️ tickets
• Forever Rare 〰️ Everywhere they go, Forever Rare focuses on the music of the region across genres, vibes, and BPMs to "build a legacy of fostering a family of music lovers who come for the music, and stay for the community." 〰️ 8pm–2am 〰️ Golden Ratio, Oakland 〰️ $10 〰️ tickets
• Safer Together Halloween Party 〰️ A place and space to dance that is “accessible and affirming for queer communities, people w/disabilities, and working class folks.” Join for bachata, salsa merengue & cumbia, even if you’ve never tried them before. 〰️ 8:30–10:30pm 〰️ In Lak’ech Dance Studio, Oakland 〰️ 😷COVID SAFE (masks required and provided) 〰️ donation suggested 〰️ tickets
• RNB PARTY 〰️ Or maybe you don’t want variation across genres and you want pure, uncut RNB. We respect that. Roll through Crybaby for good music and at least one special guest. "This is 100% the party you don’t wanna miss." 〰️ 10pm–2am 〰️ Crybaby, Oakland 〰️ $15+ 〰️ tickets

• Urban Mycology Immersion 〰️ If you've ever wanted to learn more about mushrooms, this is for you: a two-day workshop all about fungi! "We’ll be covering a range of topics in applied mycology, sitting at the intersections of mycology, horticulture, culinary arts, and herbalism." 〰️ 10am–3pm 〰️ Fig Leaf Gardens, Oakland 〰️ $75–$125 sliding scale 〰️ tickets
• Bay Area Photographer's Zine/Print Fair 〰️ Come see some incredibly rad photographers and support their work by buying some prints. 〰️ 11am–4pm 〰️ Oakland Secret, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Healing Era 〰️ Learn about wellness resources, shop BIPOC & women and/or non-binary owned businesses, and reminisce to old school jams at this family-friendly celebration. Featuring a killer DJ lineup, including local favorites Trixamillion and Chungtech 〰️ 12pm–6pm 〰️ Donkey & Goat Winery, Berkeley 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• XERITOPIA Spooky Cactus Carnival 〰️ Remember an earlier calendar post in which we made a deal that if you ever see me at a plant event, no you didn't? This is another one. If you see me here, pretend you don't. I'm not allowed more plants, but this event seems so cute and fun. Featuring carnival games, plant prizes, cactus costume contest, and Cact-o-Lantern carving with opuntia (prickly pear) paddles. "Bring rare or common cuttings to trade and connect with fellow plant lovers in the greenhouse and courtyard space." 〰️ 12pm–6pm 〰️ O2AA, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Monster Bash Roller Derby Bout 〰️ There are two different Halloween derby bouts on Saturday! This is the first one featuring Carquinez Quad Squad v Bakersfield and then later a Tricks v Treats bout in which the teams mix it up based on their costumes. 〰️ 12:30pm–5:30pm 〰️ Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo 〰️ $5–$30 〰️ tickets
• Cherry Bomb Market 〰️ Vintage clothes, sweet tattoos, good coffee — something for everybody, really. 〰️ 1pm–7pm 〰️ 687 McAllister Street, SF 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
•  Fins and Feathers and Lunar Bakery Pop-up 〰️ Two different tasty treats at this wine bar on the same day. Fins and Feathers features arancini, duck meatballs and roasted veggies and local shrooms with fermented soy bean dressing. Lunar Bakery is a women-owned micro-bakery bringing together French technique and Taiwanese flavors. 〰️ 1pm–5pm 〰️ The Study Wine Bar, Richmond 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Buried San Francisco: Jessica Ferri in conversation with Lauren Markham 〰️ Did you know that all of San Francisco’s Victorian-era cemeteries were evicted from the city in the early 1930s and relocated to Colma? Come to this book talk and learn more about the importance of cemeteries. "A city without the dead, or any memorial to them, is a place without history. It is the story of the Bay Area." 〰️ 1pm–3pm 〰️ Berkeley Public Library - North Branch 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info
• Oakland Roots season finale at Oakland Coliseum 〰️ Look, this season didn't go great for the Roots. I have my thoughts about that, which I will spare you from in this calendar post. But the season finale game will be fun, and they've got some cool sendoff plans. 〰️ 2pm 〰️ Oakland Coliseum, Oakland 〰️ $22+ 〰️ tickets
• WitchFest 2025: A Gathering of Witches 〰️ If you're more of a Samhain person, check out this free, all-ages outdoor festival with "over 50 mystical vendors, live performances, a full mocktail bar, tarot & astrology, live art demos and auction, and the expansion of our Wellness Village featuring reiki, yoga, massage, and more." 〰️ 2pm–8pm 〰️ Feathered Outlaw, Alameda 〰️ $10 for 1pm access, free after 2pm 〰️ tickets
•  Seen & Heard 〰️ Three Oakland artists — Dera R. Williams, Kristal Raheem, and Tanna Hall — share stories about their lives and creative journeys. "Come be inspired, connect with local artists and storytellers, and learn more about arts & culture journalism in Oakland." 〰️ 3pm 〰️ BAM House, Oakland 〰️ FREE but you have to RSVP 〰️ RSVP
•  Bay Area Derby Halloween Bout 〰️ Another derby bout on our calendar? You betcha. Come join Bay Area Derby for a “chill-raising” Halloween game between the San Francisco Rolling Dead and the Oakland Outlaws. 〰️ 4pm 〰️ Richmond Memorial Auditorium, Richmond 〰️ $0–$55 〰️ tickets
•  Día De Muertos Clay Altar Workshop with Leslie López 〰️ Open to all skill levels, this two-day hand building workshop will teach you how to create a clay altar to honor someone you love for Día de Muertos. "These altars can be designed to hang on a wall or to sit in a special place at home, and can be filled with personal touches made out of clay (or not!) such as miniature foods, drinks, treasured objects, or a space to light a candle." 〰️ 5pm–8pm 〰️ Kollektive Clay Studio, Oakland 〰️ $225 〰️ tickets
• Chinese Culture Center 60th Anniversary Festival Opening Night: A Radical Retrospective 〰️ This year marks 60 years of the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco's history of radical resilience, cultural power, and artistic imagination. This celebration features dancers, a live DJ, a 60s inspired cocktail bar, a photobot, and a costume contest (dress up in your favorite decade!). 〰️ 6pm–11pm 〰️ Chinese Culture Center, SF 〰️ $25 〰️ tickets
• Wood Street Documentary Fundraiser & Preview Screening 〰️ Director Caron Creighton is raising funds to finish the film production for Wood Street, and the event will feature Wood Street organizers for a post-screening Q&A. 〰️ 7pm 〰️ Bathers Library, Oakland 〰️ $10–15 donation suggested 〰️ tickets
• T4T Creature Feature 〰️ Scary and spectacular! Featuring a lineup of all trans DJs, drag performers, and 25+ vendors to enjoy under the moonlight with hot local ghoulies! Get your Ghoul 4 Ghoul on. 〰️ 7pm 〰️ 7th West, Oakland 〰️ $7+ sliding scale 〰️ tickets
• Emo Nite Halloween 〰️ Everything is bad let's cry together in spooky costumes. 〰️ 9pm 〰️ Rickshaw Stop, SF 〰️ $20 in advance, $22 at the door 〰️ tickets

• Trunk or Treat 〰️ Roll through for good coffee, cars, and a fun Halloweeny vibe. Family friendly, and costumes encouraged. 〰️ 9am–1pm 〰️ Hotboys, Oakland 〰️ more info
• Alameda Rock & Roll Flea Market 〰️ Find some unique goodies at this "bone-rattling bazaar of surf rock music, eerie delights and monstrous treasures." 〰️ 10am–6pm 〰️ Faction Brewing, Alameda 〰️ $5 〰️ more info
• San Jose Punk Rock Flea Market 〰️ Or maybe you're more of a punk guy than a rock & roll guy? Good news: there's a flea market for you too. Punk DJs all day and live music from Citrus Pit, Riot Radio, and Shortiez. 〰️ 12pm–6pm 〰️ The Ritz, San Jose 〰️ $5 〰️ more info
• NuCloud-A VTuber Concert Festival 〰️ A VTuber Halloween concert on a World War II battle ship? I don't even really know what those words mean together, but there's only one way to find out. Plus, a meet and greet of fellow VTuber enjoyers! And if you can't make it in person, there is, naturally, a livestream on YouTube. 〰️ 1pm–5pm 〰️ USS Hornet, Alameda 〰️ FREE 〰️ tickets
• Shochu Talk w. Kayoko Akabori 〰️ Shochu (no, not soju) is one of my favorite distilled beverages. And if you want to get in on the wonders that is this shochu, this is your chance. Taught by Umami Mart Co-Founder, Shochu Director, and Certified Shochu Advisor Kayoko Akabori. 〰️ 3pm–4pm 〰️ Umami Mart, Oakland 〰️ $55 〰️ tickets

• Provecho @ El Chato 〰️ Oaxacan-Californian pop-up featuring branzino served w/ honeynut squash, creme fraiche, chile seco and allium gigante bean confit and an aguachile tostada with Brokaw avocados. Come on, your mouth is watering. Also, some dope vinyl DJs. 〰️ 4pm–9pm 〰️ El Chato, SF 〰️ more info
•  When the Smoke Comes 〰️ A generative writing, discussion and reflection event that happens monthly. No experience necessary, and you can join virtually if you can't be there in person. "Themes for each session will vary month to month, but all will deal from the assertion that 'the personal is political.'" 〰️ 6pm–8pm 〰️ Kinfolx, Oakland 〰️ FREE 〰️ more info

• Murder by Death 〰️ I distinctly remember the moment I first heard Murder by Death back in 2002 and I will admit that I made their first album my entire personality for several months. After 25 years together, this is the band's final tour and I'm honestly gutted that I'm going to be out of town. Please go for me. 〰️ 6pm 〰️ UC Theater, Berkeley 〰️ $46.75 〰️ tickets

• Yaar @ Welcome Wednesdays 〰️ Desi and Iranian snackage with seasonal produce, ranging from savory rice plates to chaat. 〰️ 5pm–8pm 〰️ Oakland Yard, Oakland 〰️ more info
• Dos Raicez 〰️ The first of several popups at Missouri Lounge (which I will always affectionately think of as Misery Lounge because that's what I thought it was called for years) with special Dia de Muertos items! (If you miss them on the 29th, you'll get another chance popping the 30th, 31st, and Nov. 1). Flan, pan de muerto, and tacos! 〰️ 6pm–11pm 〰️ Missouri Lounge, Berkeley 〰️ 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!