Rob Kapilow: What Makes It Great? Ella Fitzgerald & Oscar Peterson: Standards by Jazz Legends

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For over 30 years, Rob Kapilow has brought the joy and wonder of music—and unraveled some of its mysteries—to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. With his unique ability to create an “aha” moment for his audiences and collaborators, whatever their level of musical sophistica-tion, Kapilow brings music into people’s lives: opening new ears to musical experiences and helping people to listen actively rather than just hear.

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Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale Baroque Garlands

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Nicholas McGegan, Philharmonia Baroque’s Music Director Laureate, is joined by Grammy Award–winning tenor Aaron Sheehan and soprano Nola Richardson for Rameau’s opera La Guirlande. One of the first French Baroque operas to be revived in the modern era, it tells an archetypal story of infidelity and forgiveness. Handel’s Dixit Dominus, a pressing choral setting of Psalm 110, opens the concert.

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Zee Zee

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Pianist Zee Zee (Zhang Zuo) gives a recital inspired by myths, fairy tales, and Romantic literature. On the first half is Ravel’s grim and virtuosic tryptic Gaspard de la nuit, as well as Ma mère l’Oye, a suite as simple and precious as a book of nursery rhymes. On the second half, Zee Zee plays selections from Liszt’s musical travelogues Années de pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage), featured on her recent Decca Classics album.

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Hysterical: Marsha Warfield

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For close to four decades, Marsha Warfield has grown as both a woman and an artist, experiencing all that life has to offer as a loving godmother, an opinionated feminist, an out-and-proud Black lesbian, and a talented actress. Best known for her role as Night Court’s tough, no-nonsense bailiff Roz Russell, she has also appeared on The Richard Pryor Show, Soul Train, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Tonight Show, and hosted her own Marsha Warfield Show.

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You Are Who I Love with The Crossing and Sandbox Percussion

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Sandbox Percussion joins The Crossing for composer Harold Meltzer and poet Aracelis Girmay’s You Are Who I Love, a new work about the undocumented immigrant experience in the United States. Both ensembles are entirely dedicated to new music: Sandbox Percussion has been called “exhilarating” by The New York Times and “utterly mesmerizing” by The Guardian, while the Philadelphia-based chorus The Crossing has won four Grammy Awards.

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Bomsori Kim

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This recital by Bomsori brings together French and Polish violin classics, including brooding, bluesy sonatas by Ravel and Debussy and opera-inspired works by Massenet and Wieniawski. Bomsori, a Deutsche Grammophon artist, also dusts off Szymanowski’s Nocturne and Tarntella, a fanciful take on Arabic and Spanish music that was once a favorite of 20th-century virtuosos.

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Nadine Sierra

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Soprano Nadine Sierra has sung with the world’s greatest opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Paris Opera, Berlin State Opera, and San Francisco Opera, where she got her start as an Adler Fellow. This recital begins with classic Italian arias by Verdi and Puccini, while the second half highlights Ravel’s song cycle Shéhérazade—about the heroine of The Arabian Nights—alongside music of the Americas by Villa-Lobos, Gershwin, and Bernstein.

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Danish String Quartet and Danish National Girls’ Choir

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The Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet joins the Danish National Girls’ Choir in combining old traditions and new music. They premiere the Stanford Live co-commission by composer and Stanford alumnus David Lang, titled in wildness, a work about the relationship between humans and mother earth. The first half of the program features folksongs and new music by American and Nordic women composers.

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John Santos Sextet & Friends

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This program of soulful, Afro-Caribbean–tinged jazz is designed by John Santos, “The Latin music Renaissance man” (San Francisco Chronicle) and seven-time Grammy nominee. Known for their virtuosity and collaborative spirits, Santos and his stellar sextet deconstruct standards with unusual musical turns and surprises.

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Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale Pearls of Sorrow

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Grammy-nominated countertenor Reginald Mobley puts Black spirituals in resonance with sacred music by J.S. Bach and other German Baroque composers. Through five curated sections, Mobley charts a musical journey from the trauma of war and enslavement to the finding of peace, freedom, and resilience.

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Uwade

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With a voice that first captivated audiences as the opening of Fleet Foxes’ Grammy-nominated Shore, singer-songwriter Uwade has quietly become a luminous presence in contemporary music. After touring with indie and R&B favorites like The Strokes, Jamila Woods, and Sylvan Esso, she now steps confidently into the spotlight with her debut album, Florilegium. Drawing on her Nigerian heritage, classical studies, choral roots, and a wide range of musical influences—from Fela Kuti to Yebba—Uwade’s music is rich with emotional depth and intellectual curiosity. Florilegium is a shimmering, genre-spanning collection that explores love, loss, friendship, and self-discovery with clarity and grace. In this special performance, Uwade will perform selections from Florilegium, bringing the album’s warmth and introspection to life.

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Jerusalem Quartet

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Praised for their “passion, precision, [and] warmth,” the Jerusalem Quartet’s breadth of repertoire and depth of expression have firmly established them in the string quartet tradition. Over 30 years, the ensemble has found its core in a warm, full, human sound and egalitarian balance of voices. This program includes Janáček’s Kreutzer Sonata string quartet, inspired by a Tolstoy novella; a new work composed for the Jerusalem Quartet by Shulamit Ran; and Ravel’s sole String Quartet with its memorable pizzicato second movement.

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Emmet Cohen: Miles and Coltrane at 100

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In celebration of the centennial of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, pianist Emmet Cohen brings together an all-star trio to explore the fundamental questions that shaped their artistry: Why are we here? What are we reaching for? Where does the music take us?

Guided by the spirit of the infinite, Cohen continues the journey set forth by the architects of jazz — seeking deeper truths through sound. A dedicated champion of the musical community, he approaches jazz as a living, evolving conversation that connects people across time and place. Join Cohen and his ensemble for a bold, reimagined experience of the music that forever changed the course of jazz.

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Angélique Kidjo

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Called “Africa’s premier diva” by TIME magazine, Angélique Kidjo is a Grammy Award—winning singer-songwriter who crosses West African traditions from her childhood in Benin with elements of R&B, funk, jazz, and European and Latin musical traditions. Her striking voice, stage presence, and fluency in multiple cultures and languages have expanded her following across national borders, and she has been recognized with the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award and the Polar Music Prize.

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Brentano Quartet

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After nearly four decades of acclaimed performances at Stanford and around the world, the St. Lawrence String Quartet introduces the St. Lawrence Legacy Series. This new initiative, in partnership with Stanford Live, showcases three of today’s most celebrated string quartets—ranging from legendary ensembles to rising stars and fresh competition winners. Each group will spend a week on campus in a wide-ranging residency focused on mentorship, collaboration, and community engagement, culminating in a world-class performance at Bing Concert Hall.

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Renée Elise Goldsberry

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Tony and Grammy Award–winner Renée Elise Goldsberry gained stardom as part of the original Broadway cast of Hamilton. Now Renée and her complement of backup singers will have the audience on its feet, stomping and clapping to a high-energy, nondenominational spiritual journey reminiscent of a good old-fashioned revival.

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Jean-Yves Thibaudet

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What do puppets look like naked? What is no-strings sex? What are you doing with your hands? The Sex Lives of Puppets is a multi-layered piece of theater—on the surface, offering a fun and frank exploration of puppet desire at the hands of their Dionysian puppet-masters, and on a deeper level engaging skilled puppetry to express human moods, fears, worries, hang-ups, and desires. Funny, shocking, and often surprisingly tender, this collaboration between puppets and the UK’s National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles creates a safe space to talk about sex in all its wonderous iterations.

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Virtual | 4th International Conference on Neuroscience and Mental Health

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We are pleased to welcome you to the 4th International Conference on Neuroscience and Mental Health, themed “Neuroscience and Mental Health: Healing Mind, Brain, and Society,” which will take place on May 14–15, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This event brings together researchers, clinicians, and professionals to explore breakthroughs in brain science and mental well-being, and to foster collaborative approaches for healthier societies. Participants can expect thought-provoking keynote speeches, engaging interactive sessions, and meaningful networking opportunities. Don’t miss this event to gain valuable knowledge about brain health and mental health care.

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Virtual | 17th Global Summit on Nursing Education & Healthcare

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This prestigious event will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary discussions, knowledge sharing, and networking among global leaders, educators, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of nursing and healthcare. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research, explore innovative solutions, and collaborate with experts shaping the future of healthcare.

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The Sex Lives of Puppets by Blind Summit

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What do puppets look like naked? What is no-strings sex? What are you doing with your hands? The Sex Lives of Puppets is a multi-layered piece of theater—on the surface, offering a fun and frank exploration of puppet desire at the hands of their Dionysian puppet-masters, and on a deeper level engaging skilled puppetry to express human moods, fears, worries, hang-ups, and desires. Funny, shocking, and often surprisingly tender, this collaboration between puppets and the UK’s National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles creates a safe space to talk about sex in all its wonderous iterations.

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Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival

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68th Annual Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival: Where art and community meet under the redwoods. Explore curated handmade art from 135 juried artists. Shop, connect, and wander amongst the majestic redwoods.

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Millbrae’s Summer Concert Series

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Beats, Brews, & Vines is the City of Millbrae’s Summer Concert Series that brings the community together for live musical entertainment!

We are excited to announce this year’s concerts! We will kick off this year’s concerts with a major Fourth of July Celebration in Central Park. The remainder of the concerts will then be in Downtown Millbrae on Broadway!

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Brandy & Monica: The Boy Is Mine Tour

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“The Boy Is Mine” is a duet by American singers Brandy and Monica. It was written by LaShawn Daniels, Japhe Tejeda, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, and Brandy, while production was helmed by Jerkins and Dallas Austin. It was released as the lead single from both singers’ second albums from 1998, Never Say Never by Brandy and the album of the same name by Monica.

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PHOTOS | UNSTAGED: Live on Mid-Market draws over 3,500 visitors, Juneteenth celebration

Event: UNSTAGED: Live on Mid-Market
Date: June 19, 2025
Location: Mid-Market (between 5th & 6th), San Francisco
Photos: Jezrel White

Market Street Arts kicked off UNSTAGED: Live on Mid-Market with a vibrant Juneteenth celebration on Thursday, June 19, drawing more than 3,500 visitors to Mid-Market, from 4–7 p.m. The event launched a season of free outdoor arts programming in San Francisco’s newly activated Mid-Market Entertainment Zone. Curated by San Francisco Black Wall Street Foundation in partnership with Market Street Arts, UNSTAGED featured live music, fashion, dance, art, and culinary experiences celebrating Black creativity and culture.

The Juneteenth UNSTAGED featured: Black ExcellenceFashion and Music by Mario BRed LotusHighway GrizzAfterthought and the Top Chefsthe music & dancing of Samba FunkThe Twilight Brass BandDenim Art with Holy Stitch!Lonnie “PopTart” Green and the Strutters, a Hip-hop DJ and breakdance battle with All The Way Live, Soulfulness Line Dancing with Code TenderloinTenderloin Blackness Community Portraits, Food demo from Mo’Raysha Pouoa at Cookery Skola in Saluhall, Curated Kiosk by Visual Artist, Malik Seneferu, and Warfield Commons exhibit with CAST & KALW.

UNSTAGED takes place every third Thursday on Market Street, between 5th and 6th, through October.


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Golden Gate Bandshell

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The Golden Gate Bandshell is the oldest structure in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse. The original bandstand was built in 1882, with the current structure being built in 1900. Also called the Spreckels Temple of Music, the current Bandshell was a gift to San Franciscans from sugar magnate Claus Spreckels.

The Golden Gate Park Band has presented free concerts in Golden Gate Park since 1882. It is one of the oldest professional Concert Bands in the United States. The season runs from late-April to early-October.

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Live 2025: Live on the Avenue

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Welcome to Marin County’s #1 Summer Concert Series and Community Celebration, LIVE ON THE AVENUE in Downtown San Anselmo. All shows (except July 19th’s Beatles in the Park fundraiser) are totally free. Live music on two stages every Friday and Saturday night from 6PM to 8:30PM. The Avenue is closed to vehicle traffic, creating a pedestrian-safe family-friendly strolling experience.

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Richmond Night Market

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We’re back for our second year of the Heart of the Richmond District Night Market — a vibrant, family-friendly series that celebrates the culture, small businesses, and community spirit of the Richmond District!

We’re back for our second year of the Heart of the Richmond District Night Market — a vibrant, family-friendly series that celebrates the culture, small businesses, and community spirit of the Richmond District!

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Glen Park Night Market

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Join us for an evening under the stars at the Glen Park Night Market—a vibrant community celebration of art, music, small businesses, and local culture!

Browse booths from local artists and makers, enjoy live music and DJ sets, grab bites from neighborhood favorites, visit with your neighbors and make new friends, all in the heart of Glen Park.

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PHOTOS | High-Energy Evening Benefitting Joybound People & Pets Showcases the Power of the Human-Animal Bond

Event: Unleash Happiness 2025
Date: June 7, 2025
Location: Joybound People & Pets (Walnut Creek)
Photos: Joybound People & Pets

On Saturday, June 7, Joybound People & Pets welcomed supporters to its Walnut Creek campus for Unleash Happiness 2025—an elegant, high-energy evening celebrating the powerful bond between people and pets. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails, gourmet bites, and a decadent seated dinner capped with a specialty chocolate experience. Live and silent auctions featured luxury items and pet-friendly packages, with spirited bidding that fueled Joybound’s lifesaving work.

Heartwarming stories and a few furry guests reminded attendees why their support matters. From dancing under the stars to moments of shared purpose, it was an unforgettable night that raised both funds and hope for a future where pets and people thrive—together.


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Endless Summer Market

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Celebrate the season’s sunny finale at the Endless Summer Market! Join us for a vibrant day filled with live music, local makers, and a festive atmosphere that’s family- and pet-friendly. Hosted by Creative Communal at Makers Row, this open-air market is your chance to shop small, connect with the community, and soak up the last golden rays of summer. Don’t miss out on the fun!

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Hybrid | 4th Annual Kelly Brush Ride: Bay Area

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The Kelly Brush Ride is back for its fourth year in the Bay Area! Join us for a fun day cycling picturesque Marin County on Saturday, October 25, to support the Kelly Brush Foundation’s mission to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active and engaged lives. From leisurely family-friendly jaunts to challenging routes for mountain and road cyclists alike, pick your route and pedal for a purpose. Afterward, join us for a post-ride celebration with delicious eats and drinks, music, and prizes! Can’t make it to Mill Valley? No worries! Join us remotely from anywhere, anytime, leading up to October 25. Every mile counts towards our mission.

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Virtual | 4th International Conference on Gynecology and Obstetrics

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The 4th International Conference on Gynecology and Obstetrics will be held on May 11–12, 2026, in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This global event brings together leading experts, researchers, clinicians, surgeons, and healthcare professionals to exchange knowledge and advancements in the fields of gynecology, obstetrics, reproductive health, maternal care, and women’s wellness. Attendees will gain insights into the latest scientific research, evidence-based clinical practices, and future directions in women’s health. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this premier academic and scientific event in 2026.

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13th Annual Taste of Africa Festival

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Aims to promote cultural education and diversity awareness in learning institutions, corporations, and communities that foster a more congenial relationship among its members.

Our mission is to preserve and encourage the appreciation of African culture by inspiring and educating the American public about Africa’s extensive and unique attributes, regardless of their heritage of origin.

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Chinatown Night Market

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Join us the 2nd Friday of the month (May through October) for the Chinatown Night Market! Enjoy 5 blocks of entertainment and food on Grant Avenue, as well as 2 blocks of games and seating on Waverly.

The Chinatown Night Market launched in November 2023 in the hopes of helping Chinatown small businesses that were still struggling from the aftermath of COVID-19. The Night Market was a success from the start and now regularly draws 10,000 to 18,000 visitors each month and showcases 40+ local restaurants and merchants, mostly from Chinatown. Beginning in 2025, we’ll also showcase up-and-coming Asian American DJs and performers on stage.

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PHOTOS | SFJAZZ’s Annual Gala Honoring Don Was

Event: SFJAZZ’s Annual Gala Honoring Don Was
Date: June 12, 2025
Location: SFJAZZ Center
Photos: Andrew Caulfield, Mahelly Ferreira, Jessica Monroy and Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography

On June 12, at San Francisco’s SFJAZZ Center, SFJAZZ—under the direction and guidance of Executive Artistic Director Terence Blanchard—held its SFJAZZ Gala 2025. The gala raised $1.4 million to support the organization’s artistic and education programs with the goal of advancing jazz in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. ​ This year’s gala honored legendary producer, musician, and Blue Note Records President Don Was with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award.

​​Notable attendees:
Terence Blanchard – Executive Artistic Director, SFJAZZ
Don Was – President, Blue Note Records
Delroy Lindo – Actor and Gala Host
Paul Reiser – Actor and Gala Host
Charles Lloyd – Jazz Legend
Mayor Daniel Lurie – San Francisco Mayor
Molly Joel Coye – SFJAZZ Board Chair
Chris Larsen – Executive and angel investor
Mary Miner – California-based donor and funder of many left-of-center organizations and political candidates. She is the widow of the late Oracle co-founder Robert Miner, who died of cancer in 1994. SFJAZZ’s auditorium is named for him.

[ Content: Drew Altizer Photography ]


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Halloween Hoopla

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The 25th annual Halloween Hoopla is back with family-friendly frights and delights for kids under 10 and their adults! This year’s festivities are sure to amaze with awe-inspiring performers from Circus Bella plus live music from the Circus Bella All-Star Trio. The Hoopla grand finale is the popular Halloween Costume Parade – all kids are welcome to join in their best Halloween looks. Plus craft and activity tables.

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Litquake Out Loud + Book Fair

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In a city built on tall tales, hard-boiled prose, revelatory memoirs, and penetrating reportage, Litquake is the soul of San Francisco’s cultural life. The region’s largest literary festival returns in 2025, celebrating the exuberantly creative literary community from throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Come explore a curated spread of small presses and literary magazines at the Litquake Book Fair in Yerba Buena Gardens. Browse the best in local literature set to a day of poetry readings from Litquake Out Loud. Highlighting the Bay Area’s BIPOC & LGBTQ+ writers and thought leaders, Litquake continues to elevate underrepresented voices so that all people are included in creating and imbuing the Bay Area’s historic, thriving arts scene. Details to be announced, with a list of participating presses coming soon!

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Movement Immigrant Orchestra

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After last year’s near legendary debut at the YBG Festival there was no question about a return date for Movement Immigrant Orchestra. Co-founded by Ethiopian-American singer-composer Meklit Hadero and Italian-born percussionist Marco Peris Coppola, the Movement Immigrant Orchestra is a singular collective of Bay Area-based immigrant artists that brings together musicians from a multitude of nations, including India, Mexico, Cuba, Italy, Taiwan, Spain, Iran, Mali, Haiti and Palestine. It’s Ethio-Jazz meeting Mexican Ranchera; Indian Classical melodies colliding with Eastern European rhythms; Taiwanese folk songs melding with Spanish guitar.

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Check out some of BAR's upcoming Staff Picks below, and view the complete list here>>