Despite a chilly start to the year, San Francisco’s calendar is heating up with entertainment.
Here are 18 events to check out this week in The City.
Moss art workshop (Monday)
Scrap&Sip, a Mission-district arts organization, is letting visitors create artworks centered around the plant, with all materials being provided. Guests can take home their framed pieces at the end of the two-hour session.
Participants can register online, with tickets costing $81.88 including fees. The workshop runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Nayland Blake in conversation with Jarrett Earnest (Monday)
City Lights hosts a conversation between artists Nayland Blake and Jarrett Earnest to celebrate the publication of Blake’s book, “My Studio Is a Dungeon Is the Studio: Writings and Interviews, 1983-2024.” Earnest edited and wrote the introduction to the literary work, which contains essays, interviews, scripts and collage pieces.
City Lights bookstore is hosting an in-person event celebrating the publication of “My Studio Is A Dungeon Is the Studio: Writings and Interviews, 1983-2024.”
‘The Worlds We Built: Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Belonging’ (Tuesday)
As part of One City One Book, San Francisco Public Library’s citywide reading initiative, moderator Cynthia Huie will speak with immigrant entrepreneurs. Panelists will discuss the challenges and successes associated with starting a new business.
The free event, which runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m., will be held at the Koret Auditorium in SFPL’s Main Library. The event starts at 6 p.m., and a marketplace featuring the panelists will be held an hour prior.
San Francisco Cartoonist Conspiracy Meetup (Tuesday)
Every second Tuesday, cartoonists and illustrators gather at Finjan Qawa coffee shop in the Mission district. As part of the all-ages event, artists will work together on a 12-page comic.
The no-cover event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. The coffee shop is located at 3188 Mission St.
Trivia night with The Frisc (Wednesday)
The nonprofit digital-news outlet is coming to the Wave Collective community space and holding its first-ever trivia night. Questions will revolve around San Francisco, with players competing for yet-to-be-announced prizes.
Kim Shuck’s Poem Jam (Thursday)
San Francisco poet laureate emerita presents another monthly poetry reading. This edition features performers Bill Vartnaw, Gail Mitchell, Ingrid Keir and other yet-to-be-announced special guests.
‘Making History Fun Again’ (Thursday)
Historian Joseph Amster will appear at the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in character as Joshua Norton — aka Emperor Norton, the Gold Rush-era businessman who declared himself emperor of the United States in 1859. Amster will explore The City’s past through live storytelling. Guests will be able to enjoy themed cocktails before the presentation.
San Francisco historian Joseph Amster will appear in character as Emperor Norton, the Gold Rush-era businessman who once declared himself emperor of the United States.
Craig Lee/The Examiner
‘Our Magic’ presented by The Magic Patio (Thursday)
Creator Andrew Evans invites guests to a speakeasy at which visitors can experience illusions and other mental tricks. Shows are best suited for audiences ages 16 and up.
‘Gardner Conducts The Planets’ (Thursday-Saturday)
Conductor Edward Gardner and violinist Randall Goosby join the San Francisco Symphony for a performance of Max Bruch’s “Violin Concerto No. 1.” A discussion between Kenric Taylor, founder and editor of the website gustavholst.info, and Benjamin Pesetsky, the SF Symphony’s associate editorial director, takes place one hour before each concert.
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Sketchfest Sketch and Improv Showcase (Thursday-Sunday)
Producer Jody Bolt hosts a showcase of up-and-coming sketch and improv teams from across the country. Four groups will be performing at this presentation, which is hosted at Eclectic Box, the Mission District performing arts theater.
Shows take place each night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and 9 to 10:30 p.m. Guests can purchase tickets online, which cost $30.33 including fees.
‘When the Skeleton Does Not Stand’ (Friday-Sunday)
Hosted as part of Playground San Francisco’s ninth annual Solo Performance Festival, artist Kristen Cosby’s work revolves around two conjoined siblings who live on their father’s boat. Following a debilitating accident, the siblings must navigate their new ways of living.
San Francisco-based writer and performer Kristen Cosby will be among the acts involved in Playground San Francisco’s ninth annual Solo Performance Festival.
Courtesy Kristen Cosby
Mortified Bay Area’s 20th year anniversary show (Saturday)
The Swedish American Music Hall hosts a night during which performers will share stories of the most embarrassing things they created as kids in front of a live audience. The performance also includes a reunion of The Freeze, the Mortified storytelling project’s freestyle music and rap band.
‘Walkie Talkie’ live taping at The Marsh (Saturday)
Comedian and Bay Area native Murahd Shawki films a live stand-up comedy special at The Marsh, a performing arts theater in the Mission District.
‘Puppet Up! Uncensored’ (Saturday)
Co-created by Brian Henson and Patrick Bristow, ’Puppet Up’ blends puppetry with improv comedy, all while incorporating suggestions from the audience. Performances are projected on screens suspended above the stage.
Tickets can be purchased online at prices ranging from $75.01 to $96.71. The show, which is not recommended for people age 16 and under, starts at 9 p.m. Doors open an hour prior.
‘Claude Forever: A Celebration of Life’ (Sunday)
The California Academy of Sciences hosts a celebration of life for Claude, the albino alligator, who died at the museum last month from liver cancer. Held at the Golden Gate Park Music Concourse, the event will include live performances, stories, speeches and other activities. Special events will take place at the museum following the service’s end.
The albino alligator Claude died last month from liver cancer.
Craig Lee/The Examiner
Harlem Globetrotters at Chase Center (Sunday)
The exhibition basketball team is stopping at the Mission Bay arena as part of the Globetrotters’ 100-year tour. The game will be followed by an autograph session, which is free for all fans in attendance.
‘Mo Willems: The Mo & Co. Show’ (Sunday)
Author and illustrator Mo Willems will take the stage at Marines’ Memorial Theatre. He will be joined by children’s-book author Kate Micucci and producer Cher Willems, with the duo giving a performance consisting of drawing, improv and songs.
San Francisco Civic Symphony free concert (Sunday)
The San Francisco Civic Symphony hosts a free concert at Herbst Theatre, where orchestra members will perform two works by composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.