In the name of Miriam Bengoetxea, Basque bike engineer (of Orbea Orca fame), we command you to attend WTF: the Women, Transgenderqueer, and Femme bike-fix night! Bengoetxea is one of the only women in the world designing carbon-fiber bicycle frames, partly because she's had the support of the... More >>

Most of what we know about Poetry at the 33 is that Kim Addonizio either used to hang out there or still does. That may sound like it isn't very much to go on, but Addonizio is one of the city's most underrated talents. She's a fucking genius, if you want to know the truth. If there's any... More >>

Forty-five bird species. Fifty-two plant species. Twenty orders and 39 families of arthropods. All these have been identified at the California Academy of Sciences, but it’s probably not what you think; these life forms aren’t preserved in exhibits indoors. Rather, they inhabit the... More >>

This city's theater scene is chock-full of improv. Whether you're new to it or a grizzled veteran, you won't have to hunt too long to find a venue. Each Friday and Saturday night, the Shelton Theatre hosts its own brand of "secret" improv theater. The stage at the Shelton has given such... More >>

Would you call modern day California rural? Lisa M. Hamilton does, and she’s spent years visiting “places where the culture and the economy are defined by the direct use of natural resources.” For San Franciscans, the farmers markets, CSAs, and the Artichoke Festival in... More >>

Radical social and political upheaval in 18th century France came at a cost, and you know who suffered the most? Decorative arts enthusiasts. Aristocratic and religious privilege was replaced by Enlightenment principles, which were disastrous for collectors of diamond-and-gem snuffboxes. The... More >>

You know what ensures that children’s books stay in good condition? Keeping them away from children. That’s why Mr. George M. Fox’s collection, which contains more than 2,000 early British and American children’s books, looks so pristine. Donated to the S.F. Public... More >>

Large American cities during the industrial age had amateur baseball leagues made up of blue-collar workers who created their own little societies unseen by the general populace. Men formed their teams — representing factories, power plants, and other facilities — developed rivalries,... More >>

We do what we have to do to live in our glorious Bay Area, but it’s hard not to wish for a smidge more economic security from time to time. Local artist John-Mark Ikeda takes those anxieties and runs with them, seeing America’s growing awareness of (and protest against) the... More >>

While the rest of us were sleeping, a generation of entrepreneurial women revolutionized the art of the fingernail. Forget old clichés like a diamond is forever — these ladies are serious about nail art. You could even say they get out of hand with it. But don’t take our word... More >>

Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts --... More >>

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, for all its legendary impact and influence, was an enormous gamble on the part of Walt Disney. His Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoon shorts had been successful, but producing a feature was another venture entirely. The Hollywood press saw Snow White as a... More >>

Wayne McGregor, commander of the Order of the British Empire and resident choreographer for the Royal Ballet, is known for physically demanding work that draws on surprising and wide-ranging collaborators, from architects to neuroscientists. Thanks to S.F. Ballet, two of his pieces have reached... More >>

Four comedians anchor the weekly stand-up show The Business, and they’re all extremely smart and funny. Alex Koll has dramatic hair on his face and head, Sean Keane is bringin’ self-deprecation back, and Chris Garcia is mean and angry, yet somehow also gentle. But we bet they all hate... More >>

In a city that prides itself (see what we did there?) on having one of the most prominent and active LGBT communities in the world, how do you determine the best place to see a drag show? By going to the place with the most glitter! Described by one Yelp reviewer as "a slightly skeezy gay bar... More >>

Comic strips have been around since the early 1800s, and some strips have been in circulation almost that long as well. (“The Katzenjammer Kids” has been running since 1897!). The Bay Area has been at the center of groundbreaking comic art since the 1960s when the underground comix... More >>

The Outer Sunset is typically known for only a few things: surfing and fog. But recently the neighborhood has experienced a small revitalization in the form of local hotspots like Trouble Coffee, General Store, and Outerlands. This isn't to say that the area's long-established locales are going... More >>

What is the most shoplifted book in the world? The Bible. What item, found at nearly every Chinese restaurant, was invented by a Japanese entrepreneur here in S.F.? The fortune cookie. If you didn't know the answers to these, fret not; We promise it won't go on your report card. These are... More >>

Stand-up comedy is an all-or-nothing game, economically speaking. All comics -- including some of the best we know -- basically have to do it for free unless and until they get "discovered," which roughly translates to "move to L.A. or New York in order to make a living." Which brings us to our... More >>

Not everyone is comfortable talking about sex. In fact, just hearing the word in public is enough to make some people uneasy, even here in liberal San Francisco. For those of you looking to explore your sexuality in the new year (or are just curious what the fuss is all about), head on over to... More >>

Still reeling from the stiletto-sized hole in your heart since The Golden Girls Christmas Episodes closed for the season? Us too. But you can wipe the glitter-encrusted tears from your eyes, because Trannyshack is back with drag renditions of the popular, cosmo- and shoe-obsessed HBO series Sex... More >>

We want to warn you, because otherwise it might bum you out: You’re sitting comfortably on the Magic Bus, grooving out on a loving multimedia gloss of what happened in San Francisco in the 1960s, and the windows suddenly disappear. Because you’re sitting facing the windows, this... More >>

If it's dancing girls you want, or if it's a dancing girl you are, Baxtalo Drom is your jam. Deep, deep in the steampunk jungle, this belly-dance-flavored club is rife with old-timey aesthetics, exposed tattooage, and feathers in hairdos. The evening is organized by the very pretty women of... More >>

If Hollywood ever tries its hand at Escape from San Francisco, we hope there are kayaks involved. There just aren’t enough kayaks in action films, you know? We imagine the little boats riding a tsunami, hurtling toward the bad guys who have taken Coit Tower hostage, somehow managing to... More >>

You like to have your butt thoroughly kicked, do you not? You may have already kicked your own butt with dance class, yoga class, brutal hikes, standard gym visits, athletic sex, or what have you, but have you done it on a trampoline? At Air Conditioning classes, use the power of bouncing to... More >>