2025 SFFILM Awards Night
2025-12-08 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Gateway Pavilion – Pier 2, 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco, 94123
A benefit supporting SFFILM’s bold mission to transform the world through the creativity and inspiration of film. Your support at any level furthers our year-round work in exhibition, artist development, and education.
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Twista with Live Band
2025-12-08 20:00 | Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Grammy nominated multi-platinum Recording artist Twista made his recording debut on “Po Pimp,” a platinum single by his fellow Windy City rappers Do or Die. Following “Po Pimp,” Twista signed with Big Beat/Atlantic and released his debut, Adrenaline Rush
Mobstability followed a year later, and in 1999 Twista returned with Legit Ballin’. In fall 2002, he hooked up with Ludacris, Jay-Z, Bone Thugs-N- Harmony, and others for the recording of his third album
Kamikaze came out at the beginning of 2004 and promptly hit the Billboard 200, riding the impetus of his number one hit single “Slow Jamz” & “Overnight Celebrity” In 2005, he returned with the album The Day After and the hit single “Girl Tonite” featuring Trey Songz.
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John Legend: Get Lifted - 20th Anniversary Tour
2025-12-09 20:00 | Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway between 20th and 21st Streets, Oakland, CA, United States
John Legend celebrates the 20th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album, Get Lifted.
“I’m so thrilled to be celebrating 20 years of the album that introduced me to the world,” said Legend. “Get Lifted has always meant so much to me and to so many of my fans and supporters. I’m so grateful for the career that this album launched. These last 20 years have taken me far beyond my wildest dreams.”
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An Evening with John Legend: Get Lifted – 20th Anniversary Tour
2025-12-09 20:00 | Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway between 20th and 21st Streets, Oakland, CA, United States
Backed by his full band, Legend’s Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour showcases a set list celebrating the entirety of his Grammy-winning album. Each night, Legend delivers a mix of deep cuts, fan favorites, and fresh renditions of the album’s beloved tracks. Surprise guests will join Legend across the tour. In addition to honoring Get Lifted, the live show features Legend’s other career-spanning hits. This is a celebration you don’t want to miss!
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A Christmas Carol
2025-12-10 - 2025-12-21 | Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596, United States
Center REP has assembled an award-winning team of artists for this all-new production of the treasured holiday classic. In this heartfelt and exceedingly lively new adaptation, a young Tim Cratchit makes a wish on a candle, invoking a series of ghostly visitors to the bedside of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. With a “humbug!” on his breath, the curmudgeon is whisked away on a journey of awakening. Celebrated playwright Harrison David Rivers’ tender retelling highlights the necessity of caring for the most vulnerable among us while delivering a profound love letter to Dickens’ beloved story. Immersing the audience in a dazzling digital design, nationally acclaimed director Jared Mezzocchi (Center REP’s FROGGY) brings Victorian London and its netherworld to vivid life in this time-honored tale that asks us to contemplate the value of empathy over financial profits. Don’t miss the Bay Area’s grandest telling of Dickens’ classic in this not-to-be-missed premiere production.
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Thrive@MoAD
2025-12-10 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-13 11:00 - 17:00 | MoAD | Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
Join us every Second Saturday for Thrive @ MoAD, a free community day sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, with free admission to all exhibitions! Museums across the globe are increasingly recognized for their important role in promoting personal and social well-being.
Studies show that engaging with art and culture boosts brain function, supports trauma healing, and helps reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Don’t miss out—visit us for Thrive @ MoAD!
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NAWBO-SFBA Holiday Market
2025-12-10 15:00 - 18:30 | One Market Plaza, 1 Market Street, San Francisco, 94105
Enjoy an afternoon filled with festive cheer as you explore treasures from 40+ local vendors at our Holiday Market.
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MoAD Mix - A Spirited Discussion on Art & Culture
2025-12-10 18:00 - 19:00 | [ Virtual ], CA
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on “Why (Black) Art Matters,” featuring special guest Key Jo Lee, MoAD’s Chief of Curatorial Affairs and Public Programs. In this edition, we invite guests to reflect on the role of art in shaping culture, challenging systems, and sustaining community—especially in times of uncertainty.
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The Black Fantastic: Black Culture & Moving Images of the 21st Century
2025-12-10 19:00 - 21:00 | [ Virtual ], CA
Join us for Dr. Artel Great’s final program as the Cultural Critic-in-Residence at MoAD!
What happens when the Black radical imagination treats the screen as a laboratory for freedom? This program surveys a quarter-century of cultural flashpoints from Obama to Breonna Taylor, the rise and fall of DEI, to the decline of presidential politics, and the earthquake of George Floyd. “The Black Fantastic” examines these social and historical factors alongside a range of breakthrough films and television series that reshaped images of Black life on screen, from social horror and magical realism to superhero world-building and Afrofuturist speculation, Black creators have shattered expectations, redefined genres, and claimed narrative authority with exceptional force.
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Pink Martini's Holiday Spectacular
2025-12-10 19:30 | Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen Street, Stanford, 94305, United States
Pink Martini is celebrating its third decade crossing genres of classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop. Founded in Portland, Oregon, by Thomas Lauderdale, this “little orchestra” has sold more than three million albums and performed its multilingual repertoire throughout the world.
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Tourmaline
2025-12-10 19:30 | Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Tourmaline is an award-winning artist, filmmaker, writer, and activist whose work is dedicated to Black trans joy and freedom. She is a TIME 100 Most Influential Person in the World awardee and a Guggenheim Fellow. She has frequently appeared on ABC News, as well as in the New York Times and Vogue. Her art is in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Tate, and the Getty Museum. She created the critically acclaimed film Happy Birthday, Marsha!, and she has directed Pride campaigns for Dove, Marc Jacobs, and Reebok. She previously worked with Queers for Economic Justice and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. She lives in Miami, Florida.
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M.M.LaFleur San Francisco Trunk Show
2025-12-11 - 2025-12-14 | The Marker Hotel, 501 Geary Street, San Francisco, 94102
Join us for a special weekend of in-person shopping and styling right here in the Bay. Work with the M.M.LaFleur team to find your fit, fill gaps in your wardrobe, and develop go-to outfit formulas. Come to shop, connect with your local community, and discover why everyone’s obsessed with M.M.
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New Acts for SF's Performing Arts Centers
2025-12-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Manny’s, 3092 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
A conversation about Partnerships, Placemaking & Possibility for San Francisco’s arts institutions

Anchor institutions located in the city’s Civic Center are exploring unchartered territory to welcome new and diverse audiences.
Join the leaders of San Francisco’s War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, BroadwaySF and more for a conversation on how they’re forging new partnerships, redefining experiences and even pursuing placemaking strategies to ensure the city’s performing arts scene not only survives but thrives.
Panelists:
Jamie Budgett, BroadwaySF General Manager
Kate Sofis, San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center Managing Director
More TBA
Info & Tickets

Russell Hall with Broadway Jazz Starlet Georgia Heers
2025-12-11 19:00, 2025-12-12 19:00 | Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Francisco, CA, 94109, United States
Black Cat proudly presents bassist, bandleader, and unstoppable force Russell Hall—a magnetic performer who brings the party with him everywhere he goes. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, raised in Miami, and honed at The Juilliard School under legends Ben Wolfe, Ron Carter, and Wynton Marsalis, Russell has become one of New York City’s most in-demand bassists. His electric presence, genre-bending versatility, and deep musicality have put him at the center of the city’s jazz, rock, and creative music scenes. With his upcoming album COLORZ set to drop in April 2026, Russell continues to push boundaries and light up every stage he touches.
Info & Tickets

Realtime Collective
2025-12-11 19:00 | SFJAZZ, 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
An all-star quartet that brings together four of the busiest and most formidable musicians in the region, the Realtime Collective is a group that lives in the moment, exalting in an onstage communion forged by countless gigs in every imaginable setting and combination.
On piano and vocals, Tammy L. Hall has performed often at SFJAZZ, leading her own bands and with artists as different as vocalist Kim Nalley and performance artist Laurie Anderson. She’s a consummate accompanist whose command of gospel, jazz, soul and classical music infuse everything she plays.
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A Chanticleer Christmas
2025-12-11 19:30 | Stanford Memorial Auditorium, 551 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, 94305
It wouldn’t be the holidays without Chanticleer at Memorial Church. San Francisco’s treasured men’s vocal ensemble creates a new Christmas program each year, activating the church’s gorgeous acoustics to create a feeling of community and serene beauty.
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Robert Glasper
2025-12-11 19:30 | Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Robert Glasper is the leader of a new sonic paradigm with a career that bridges musical and artistic genres. To date, he boasts 5 Grammy wins and 12 nominations across 11 categories, an Emmy Award for his song for Ava Duvernay’s critically hailed documentary “13th” with Common and Karriem Riggins, and a Peabody Award for his Composition of “Mr. Soul!”. His work and accolades bridge all aspects of the music business, from live touring to film scoring, composing, and producing. Evolution is his hallmark. Glasper’s breakout crossover album Black Radio changed the face of the genre and set a new expectation for what popular music could be.
Info & Tickets

Annie & The Caldwells
2025-12-11 20:00 | The Freight, 2020 Addison St, Berkeley, CA, 94704, United States
Annie & The Caldwells are a family band that plays a powerful soul from West Point, Mississippi. Their music pulls from artists the family love — The Gap Band, Chaka Khan, Bootsy Collins. Their acclaimed album Can’t Lose (My Soul) was released by David Byrne’s Luaka Bop record label in 2025.
Parking
Center Street Garage, next door to The Freight, is currently open nightly until 1am except Sunday. More details here.
Public Transit
The Freight & Salvage is BARTable! Downtown Berkeley BART station is a half a block from the Freight. Details at bart.gov. Many AC Transit bus lines stop within a few blocks of the Freight. Details at actransit.org.
Nearby Favorites Bars/Restaurants
Revival Bar + Kitchen | 2102 Shattuck Avenue, (510) 549–9950
Comal Next Door | 2024 Shattuck Ave, (510) 422-662
Gather | 2200 Oxford Street @ Allston, (510) 809-0400
Info & Tickets

Holiday Spectacular
2025-12-12 - 2025-12-13 | Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Join the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for the Holiday Spectacular—a sparkling celebration that blends beloved holiday classics, bold new works, and fabulously queer twists. From the timeless charm of Irving Berlin and Elton John to the soaring beauty of Eric Whitacre, and from the iconic flair of Cher, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, this concert brings together breathtaking music and dazzling choreography. With heartwarming moments and glittering joy, this holiday tradition is the perfect way to kick off the season.
Info & Tickets

Holiday Mixer 2025
2025-12-12 18:00 | Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
You are cordially invited to an evening of holiday cheers, spirits and more at our annual Holiday Mixer. Co-presidents and Co-CEO’s Gloria Duffy and Phillip Yun will announce what exciting things await us for 2026 at Commonwealth Club World Affairs. Be in the know—learn about the programs the Club offers to its members.
Enjoy some live R&B music by Earth Child, a local San Francisco up-and-coming music group; our Farmer Gallery will feature Usha Shukla’s colorful, fluid and transparent abstract paintings; there will be poetry by local poet Sabrina Dooley and live painting by fine art artist Allison McCrady. The holiday mixer features local art vendors and more!
Info & Tickets

Music, Comedy & Cocktails W/Christopher Williams, 3TOB & Shea Suga!
2025-12-12 18:00 - 23:00 | Orinda Theatre, 4 Orinda Theater Square, Orinda, CA, 94563, United States
Welcome to the Fresh Series! It’s Music, Comedy & Cocktails at the luxurious Orinda Theatre, just 5 minutes from Oakland/Berkeley! Featuring performances by Christopher Williams, 3TOB (original Band for Tony! Toni! Toné!) and comic phenom Shea Suga. It’s not just a show, IT’s A PARTY!
Info & Tickets

Street Spirit Party at Eli's
2025-12-12 18:30 - 23:30 | Eli’s Mile High Club, 3629 Martin Luther King Junior Way, Oakland, 94609
Join us for a night of music and community to celebrate another year of Street Spirit — and yes, the patio will be open!
Info & Tickets

Carmen Maria Machado
2025-12-12 19:30 | Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
I Who Have Never Known Men was first published in Belgium thirty years ago. Since being brought back into print by Bay Area publisher Transit Books in 2022, it has sparked the attention of hundreds of thousands of new readers. Award-winning author Carmen Maria Machado writes in the introduction for the new collector’s edition that it was a book that “enticed and then inflamed her” when she first came across a used copy in the nineties at a rummage sale. What she discovered—and carried with her for years—is a timeless novel of female friendship and intimacy, and the lengths people will go to maintain their humanity in the face of devastation. Join us for a conversation with Carmen Maria Machado and KQED’s Alexis Madrigal about the enduring power of this speculative feminist classic and why it has found a new moment with a new generation of readers.
Info & Tickets

Broadway Holiday
2025-12-13 - 2025-12-21 | Sonoma Country Day School, 4400 Day School Pl, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403, United States
Celebrate the season with Broadway stars, festive favorites, and heartwarming moments. Plus, Gold ticket holders at Sonoma Country Day School are invited to an exclusive pre-show reception, while Gold ticket holders at Sebastiani Theatre attendees can enjoy a post-show reception at Three Sticks Winery.
Info & Tickets

The San Jose Nutcracker
2025-12-13 - 2025-12-23 | California Theatre, 351 Railtoad Ave, Pittsburg, CA, 94565, United States
New Ballet and Symphony San Jose return for the 2025 holiday production of The San Jose Nutcracker, choreographed by New Ballet Founder and Director, Dalia Rawson.
In In addition to eight full-length productions of Tchaikovsky’s immortal classic, there will be three performances of a special one-act My Very First Nutcracker, ideal for families with toddlers, preschoolers, and young children.
This unique take on the classic tale of Clara and the Nutcracker is set against the backdrop of 1905 San Jose with landmarks of the era and dazzling scenic elements, including the historic San Jose Electric Light Tower and a skyline of the City in the turn-of-the last-century. The costumes for the first act were inspired by period dolls from History San Jose’s archives and the second act reflects the valley carpeted in orchard blossoms that inspired the name “The Valley of Heart’s Delight” while celebrating the heritage that has made the South Bay the center of innovation it is today.
Info & Tickets

Season's Greetings Singalong with Zoe Ellis
2025-12-13 11:00 | The Freight, 2020 Addison St, Berkeley, CA, 94704, United States
Berkeley native Zoe Ellis co-founded the Freight Singers Community Chorus with Bryan Dyer, teaches singing for all levels at The Freight, and is a regular contributor to The Freight’s Golden State of Song arts immersion program. For the first time ever, she’ll lead a Season’s Greeting Singalong to welcome holiday cheer into our showroom! During this 75 minute interactive singalong, Zoe will lead the audience through songs to get you into the season: Christmas Carols, non-denominational holiday songs, and more. The whole family is welcome to attend!
Parking
Center Street Garage, next door to The Freight, is currently open nightly until 1am except Sunday. More details here.
Public Transit
The Freight & Salvage is BARTable! Downtown Berkeley BART station is a half a block from the Freight. Details at bart.gov. Many AC Transit bus lines stop within a few blocks of the Freight. Details at actransit.org.
Nearby Favorites Bars/Restaurants
Revival Bar + Kitchen | 2102 Shattuck Avenue, (510) 549–9950
Comal Next Door | 2024 Shattuck Ave, (510) 422-662
Gather | 2200 Oxford Street @ Allston, (510) 809-0400
Info & Tickets

Member Tours: Curator Walkthrough: Students on Strike
2025-12-13 12:00 - 13:00 | OMCA | Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Join us for a walkthrough of Students on Strike, a special installation in the Gallery of California History. With OMCA Curator Ryder Diaz as your guide, explore the legacy of student activism at San Francisco State University and reflect on how generations of students have continued to demand justice, accountability, and change.
Info & Tickets

Celebration - MoAD at Twenty
2025-12-13 14:00 - 16:30 | MoAD | Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
Join us to celebrate Twenty Years of MoAD! On our monthly Free Community Day we will host a conversation commemorating the founding of MoAD in December 2005. Special guests will discuss what it to took to make Museum of the African Diaspora a reality, how we have evolved over the years, and what is our vision for the future. Panelists include the Honorable Mayor Willie Brown, MoAD Executive Director & CEO Monetta White, Chief of Curatorial & Public Programs Key Jo Lee, Former Executive Director & CEO Linda Harrison, and the Director of the Capital Campaign to build MoAD Schyleen Qualls. The conversation will be moderated by Charles Ward and will take place in the MoAD Salon, surrounded by the current exhibition Continuum: MoAD Over Time, commemorating MoAD’s 20th Anniversary.
Info & Tickets
