Another week, another roundup of Bay Area events to make life anything but normal.
Monday, September 18th: 'Waack' Away a Bad Case of The Mondays @ Dogpatch Dance and Yoga
When: 5:30-6:30pm
Where: 435 23rd St. (Dogpatch), dogpatchdance.com
Why: Get your groove on this Monday in the Dogpatch with a wack-punk-hybrid dance class. "Waacking," as it's more commonly known, is a rebellious style of dance popularized by the LGBTQ community back in the 1970s that's making its way back into pop-popular culture. Join instructor Kafi Payne for a step-by-step intro class on how to waack right. Tickets ($15) are available at Eventbrite.
Tuesday, September 19th: Be Serenaded by Ruth B. @ Slim's
When: 8-10:30pm
Where: 333 11th St. (SoMa), slimspresents.com
Why: After gaining international acclaim from her viral hit "Lost Boy," Ruth B. has been steadily amassing quite the fan base—the self-taught Canadian songwriter and pianist's ballads have a certain way of tugging at your heart. Head to Slim's this Tuesday to see her perform songs from her debut album, Safe Haven. Tickets ($16) can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, September 20th: Big Book Sale @ Fort Mason Center
When: 10am to 6pm
Where: Landmark Building C, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina), friendssfpl.org
Why: Bookworms, rejoice! The 53rd annual Big Book Sale returns to SF this week with literally tens of thousands of second-hand books up for grabs for $3 or less. Grab one, grab 10, heck, grab a hundred. Admission is free, so you can pick up every novel on your fall reading list.
Thursday, September 21st: Take a Culture Crawl @ Yerba Buena Neighborhood
When: 5-10pm
Where: 750 Howard St. (SoMa), ybca.org
Why: On Third Thursdays, admission to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, as well as other neighborhood galleries and museums, is free. You can also wander the gardens and snack, catch performances, and more. Peruse YBCA's City Initiative, a series of exhibits that showcases architects, designers, planners, and artists creating provocative work in urban environments. RSVP on Eventbrite.
Friday, September 22nd: Art Meets Espresso @ Four Barrel Coffee
When: 6-8pm
Where: 375 Valencia St. (Mission), fourbarrelcoffee.com
Why: Kick off the weekend with a cup of single-origin coffee and Four Barrel's new open call exhibit, Fluid, featuring artists who put brush to canvas to express the fluidity of both man-made and natural subjects. Register on Eventbrite.
Saturday, September 23rd: Game of Thrones Vibes @ Lake Merritt
When: 10am to 5pm
Where: 568 Bellevue Ave. (Oakland), sfdragonboat.com
Why: Dracarys! The California Dragon Boat Association celebrates it 22nd Annual Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Merritt Saturday. Cheer on the fleet of colorful 40-foot dragon boats as they race to the beat of Chinese drums; later in the afternoon, chow down on Asian cuisine. Admission is free, but be sure to have a few bucks on hand to splurge on dragon merchandise and fiery cuisine. (Parking details and BART information can be found on the festival's Transport Page.)
Sunday, September 24th: Get Your Leather On @ Folsom Street
When: 11am to 6pm
Where: Folsom Street (Mission), folsomstreetevents.org
Why: It's that time again. The world's largest leather festival returns in all it's assless leather-chapped glory. See what's hot between the sheets at more than 200 exhibiting booths and catch a full lineup of events. Admission is free, but the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will rightly try to bewitch you into making a small charitable donation—you'll score $2 off of festival food and drink.
