Arts & Entertainment

Americana songwriter Sarah Jarosz’s latest release began as a commission for the FreshGrass Foundation, a group promoting innovative grassroots music. (Courtesy Kaitlyn Raitz)

Sarah Jarosz gets personal on ‘Blue Heron Suite’

Grammy-winner’s song cycle inspired by childhood memories

The new film adaptation of “In The Heights” is in the lineup of 2021 San Francisco Pride festivities. (Courtesy Warner Bros.)

Frameline, SF Pride screen ‘In The Heights’

Ballpark film event features adaptation of Tony-winning musical

“Sistine Chapel 1993/2019” is the grand finale of “Nam June Paik” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Courtesy Estate of Nam June Paik/Photo by Andria Lo)

Nam June Paik predicted the internet revolution

Groundbreaking TV-loving artist in spotlight in SFMOMA retrospective

To the right of the SkyStar Observation Wheel in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse is the pedestal around which an art installation honoring Black history in America will be mounted. (Daniel Montes/Bay City News)

Art installation in Golden Gate Park will honor first Africans in America

The city hopes to unveil a new art installation in Golden Gate…

To the right of the SkyStar Observation Wheel in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse is the pedestal around which an art installation honoring Black history in America will be mounted. (Daniel Montes/Bay City News)
Paula McLain’s “When the Stars Go Dark” is a tragic thriller written with grace and hope. (Author photo courtesy Melanie Acevedo)

SFPD detective at center of sensitive novel ‘When the Stars Go Dark’

Paula McLain’s latest is an astute thriller

Paula McLain’s “When the Stars Go Dark” is a tragic thriller written with grace and hope. (Author photo courtesy Melanie Acevedo)
San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen and members of the orchestra were thrilled to be back inside Davies Symphony Hall on May 6 in a program for first responders featuring string works by Jean Sibelius, George Walker, Carl Nielsen, Caroline Shaw and Edward Grieg. (Courtesy Stefan Cohen/San Francisco Symphony)

SF Symphony makes joyful return to Davies Hall

Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts program for first responders and community leaders

San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen and members of the orchestra were thrilled to be back inside Davies Symphony Hall on May 6 in a program for first responders featuring string works by Jean Sibelius, George Walker, Carl Nielsen, Caroline Shaw and Edward Grieg. (Courtesy Stefan Cohen/San Francisco Symphony)
Jazz pianist and composer Jon Jang is an instructor at Community Music Center in the Mission District. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Jon Jang composes bittersweet symphonies

Musician-activist’s works are steeped in civil rights history

Jazz pianist and composer Jon Jang is an instructor at Community Music Center in the Mission District. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Front, from left, Ehud Barak, Bill Clinton and Yasser Arafat are pictured at Camp David in July 2000 in “The Human Factor.”<ins> (Courtesy William J. Clinton Presidential Library/Sony Pictures Classics)</ins>

‘Human Factor’ goes behind the scenes of Middle East peace talks

Ambassadors who were there tell stories in appealing wonky documentary

Front, from left, Ehud Barak, Bill Clinton and Yasser Arafat are pictured at Camp David in July 2000 in “The Human Factor.”<ins> (Courtesy William J. Clinton Presidential Library/Sony Pictures Classics)</ins>
Jason Statham, left, and Josh Hartnett star in “Wrath of Man.” (Courtesy Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)

‘Wrath of Man’ is a solid, if solemn, revenge film

Jason Statham reunites with director Guy Ritchie

Jason Statham, left, and Josh Hartnett star in “Wrath of Man.” (Courtesy Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)
Julia Stone’s latest solo album is called “Sixty Summers.” (Courtesy Brooke Ashley Barone)

Julia Stone goes in new direction on new recording

Songwriter takes cues from eclectic producers Doveman, St. Vincent

Julia Stone’s latest solo album is called “Sixty Summers.” (Courtesy Brooke Ashley Barone)
A metal strongbox with appliques (circa AD 1-79) from Parco Archeologico di Pompei is among the items on view in “Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave.” (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Legion of Honor reopens with two original exhibitions

Museum showcases ancient objects from Pompeii, bold new sculptures

A metal strongbox with appliques (circa AD 1-79) from Parco Archeologico di Pompei is among the items on view in “Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave.” (Courtesy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
The Roxie Theater in the Mission, a haven for movie lovers, is slated to reopen on May 21 with a special program being selected by a poll of enthusiastic viewers. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

S.F. indie movie houses readying to reopen

Fans, operators excited to return to the big-screen experience

The Roxie Theater in the Mission, a haven for movie lovers, is slated to reopen on May 21 with a special program being selected by a poll of enthusiastic viewers. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Don Johnson, currently appearing on NBC's "Kenan," has been shooting scenes for a new "Nash Bridges" show in The City. (Courtesy Chris Haston/NBC)

New ‘Nash Bridges’ show filming in The City

Supervisors OK use of SFPD insignia for series’ use

  • May 4, 2021
Don Johnson, currently appearing on NBC's "Kenan," has been shooting scenes for a new "Nash Bridges" show in The City. (Courtesy Chris Haston/NBC)
From left, Wiley Naman Strasser, Eric Garcia and Meegan Hertensteiner appear in FACT/SF’s “Diffusion” in Glen Canyon Park. (Courtesy Robbie Sweeny)

‘Diffusion’ dancers go deep inside Glen Canyon

FACT/SF premieres life-affirming dance in a beautiful urban park

From left, Wiley Naman Strasser, Eric Garcia and Meegan Hertensteiner appear in FACT/SF’s “Diffusion” in Glen Canyon Park. (Courtesy Robbie Sweeny)
Audium, which offers a unique sound and space experience, brings back performances on Thursdays and Fridays for groups of no more than 10. <ins>(Courtesy Mark Akamine)</ins>

Audium reopens with a new, calming audio show

‘Sound-space continuum’ performances take place in the dark

  • May 4, 2021
Audium, which offers a unique sound and space experience, brings back performances on Thursdays and Fridays for groups of no more than 10. <ins>(Courtesy Mark Akamine)</ins>
From left, Melissa Ortiz, Lorri Holt, Dan Hiatt and Blythe de Oliveira Foster appear in San Francisco Playhouse’s production of Ruben Grijalva’s “Shoot Me When… .” (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli/San Francisco Playhouse)

‘Shoot Me When…’ a heartfelt look at dementia

SF Playhouse stages entertaining family dramedy by Ruben Grijalva

From left, Melissa Ortiz, Lorri Holt, Dan Hiatt and Blythe de Oliveira Foster appear in San Francisco Playhouse’s production of Ruben Grijalva’s “Shoot Me When… .” (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli/San Francisco Playhouse)
Another perfect day comes to an end at Lehua Lounge in Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. (Julie L. Kessler/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Maui’s wonderful Wailea

South Maui’s sun-kissed coast may be the ultimate antidote to the lost year

Another perfect day comes to an end at Lehua Lounge in Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. (Julie L. Kessler/Special to S.F. Examiner)
A recent tasting with international winemakers featured notable examples of sauvignon blanc. (Lyle Norton/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Sauvignon blanc has appealing global presence

Varietal provides a refreshing, food-friendly alternative to chardonnay

A recent tasting with international winemakers featured notable examples of sauvignon blanc. (Lyle Norton/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Ghostie (Akaina Ghosh) and Ghosty (Maria Marquis) are called by Mugwumpin’s creatures in Cutting Ball Theater’s “Phantasmagoria.” (Courtesy Cutting Ball Theater)

Cutting Ball and collaborators stream wonderfully wacky ‘Phantasmagoria’

Clever 50-minute show amusingly explores notions of self-identity

Ghostie (Akaina Ghosh) and Ghosty (Maria Marquis) are called by Mugwumpin’s creatures in Cutting Ball Theater’s “Phantasmagoria.” (Courtesy Cutting Ball Theater)
“Racially Charged: America’s Misdemeanor Problem,” a social justice film by Robert Greenwald, can be viewed online for free. (Courtesy photo)

Enlightening documentary examines injustices surrounding misdemeanors

Film looks at devastating effects of system on minority communities

  • Apr 30, 2021
“Racially Charged: America’s Misdemeanor Problem,” a social justice film by Robert Greenwald, can be viewed online for free. (Courtesy photo)