Arts & Entertainment

The band Retrovirus is among Lydia Lunch’s 21st century projects. (Courtesy Kathleen Fox)

For provocateur Lydia Lunch, the war is never over

Punk, performance art legend appears af SF screening of doc about her life

In his extensive filming of The City during the pandemic, Eric Goodfield said he has been “observing how the environment affects the behavior of people.” (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Filmmaker Eric Goodfield fixes lens on SF’s COVID days

140 days of shooting in The City made for ‘greatest adventure’

Lucy Walker’s documentary “Bring Your Own Brigade” covers the complexities of California’s biggest wildfires. (Courtesy CBS Films)

‘Bring Your Own Brigade’ examines why California wildfires are intensifying

Experts describe how deadliest blazes occurred, and what could be done so they won’t happen again

Bassist-composer Sascha Jacobsen is at the helm of the tango nuevo band Los Tangueros del Oeste. (Courtesy photo)

S.F. tango nuevo band melds modern, classic sounds

Pandemic spurs virtual collaboration on ‘Alma Vieja’

  • Jul 25, 2021
Bassist-composer Sascha Jacobsen is at the helm of the tango nuevo band Los Tangueros del Oeste. (Courtesy photo)
Linda Rui Feng’s debut novel deftly describes the huge emotional impact of China’s Cultural Revolution on immigrants to America. (Author photo courtesy Lisa Sakulensky)

‘Swimming Back to Trout River’ evocatively examines impact of China’s Cultural Revolution

Linda Rui Feng captures human condition in compelling novel

Linda Rui Feng’s debut novel deftly describes the huge emotional impact of China’s Cultural Revolution on immigrants to America. (Author photo courtesy Lisa Sakulensky)
Photorgrapher Rick Gerharter’s “ACT NICE, OR ELSE! The Unity March” from June 23, 1990 is among the images in the San Francisco Public Library’s exhibition about the sixth International Conference on AIDS. <ins>(Courtesy Rick Gerharter)</ins>

1990s AIDS activism in spotlight at SF library

Exhibition recalls demonstrations, disruption of international conference in The City

Photorgrapher Rick Gerharter’s “ACT NICE, OR ELSE! The Unity March” from June 23, 1990 is among the images in the San Francisco Public Library’s exhibition about the sixth International Conference on AIDS. <ins>(Courtesy Rick Gerharter)</ins>
Jeremy Kahn and Monica Ho are excellent in San Francisco Playhouse’s production of Lauren Yee’s “The Song of Summer,” being presented live and online. (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)

Touching relationship at heart of ‘Song of Summer’

Lighthearted SF Playhouse show ‘feels right for this moment’

Jeremy Kahn and Monica Ho are excellent in San Francisco Playhouse’s production of Lauren Yee’s “The Song of Summer,” being presented live and online. (Courtesy Jessica Palopoli)
Chad Neuman, new culinary director of Chase Center, introduced new Asian-inspired menu items on July 26, 2021. (Courtesty Chase Center)

Chad Neuman heads up Chase Center dining

Arena uniquely serving from-scratch food for diverse palates

Chad Neuman, new culinary director of Chase Center, introduced new Asian-inspired menu items on July 26, 2021. (Courtesty Chase Center)
John Doe appears with X at Stern Grove this weekend. <ins>(Courtesy Autumn De Wilde)</ins>

X’s John Doe stays on point during COVID

Punk pioneer releases 2020 album, plays solo, maintains acting career

John Doe appears with X at Stern Grove this weekend. <ins>(Courtesy Autumn De Wilde)</ins>
Ali Suliman plays a West Bank man who struggles to stay in contact with his family members, who live on the Israeli side of the border wall, in “200 Meters,” which streams in the 41st San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. (Courtesy Alaa Ali Abdallah)

41st SF Jewish film fest screens at Castro and online

Dozens of movies from around the world reflect varied experiences, views

Ali Suliman plays a West Bank man who struggles to stay in contact with his family members, who live on the Israeli side of the border wall, in “200 Meters,” which streams in the 41st San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. (Courtesy Alaa Ali Abdallah)
In the team Lab installation “Sketch Ocean,” visitors’ drawings of sea creatures are photographed, scanned and instantly added to moving art work on gallery walls. (Courtesy teamLab)

Dazzling wonderland fills Asian Art Museum’s new wing

Technology, nature combine to magical effect in ‘teamLab: Continuity’

In the team Lab installation “Sketch Ocean,” visitors’ drawings of sea creatures are photographed, scanned and instantly added to moving art work on gallery walls. (Courtesy teamLab)
The hallway in the Regal Stonestown Galleria movie complex feels almost like something from the set of a music video. (Jeffrey M. Anderson/Special to The Examiner)

Big-screen scene is Regal at Stonestown

New 12-auditorium theater brings back movies the right way

The hallway in the Regal Stonestown Galleria movie complex feels almost like something from the set of a music video. (Jeffrey M. Anderson/Special to The Examiner)
Hadleigh Adams portrays Doug Hansen in the graphic novel opera “Everest.” (Courtesy Mark Simmons)

Opera gets animated on film in ‘Everest’

Opera Parallèle debuts ‘graphic novel opera’ about 1996 climbing tragedy

Hadleigh Adams portrays Doug Hansen in the graphic novel opera “Everest.” (Courtesy Mark Simmons)
Big Brother and the Holding Company’s 1968 album “Cheap Thrills” is a rock classic. Courtesy Big Brother and the Holding Company

The true story of Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company

The band made the singer, not the other way around

Big Brother and the Holding Company’s 1968 album “Cheap Thrills” is a rock classic. Courtesy Big Brother and the Holding Company
Emporium Arcade has three large screens where movies, or custom images for private events, are shown.<ins> (Veronica Irwin/SFWeekly)</ins>

Level Up: Gaming’s back at Emporium Arcade Bar

‘Here, we don’t have the pretension of other places’

  • Jul 12, 2021
Emporium Arcade has three large screens where movies, or custom images for private events, are shown.<ins> (Veronica Irwin/SFWeekly)</ins>
The Tonga Room’s official band The Island Groove has been entertaining guests from a boat in the lagoon for years. (Leslie Katz/The Examiner)

Tonga Room swimmingly back in business

Rain, rum drinks remain intact in historic tiki lounge

The Tonga Room’s official band The Island Groove has been entertaining guests from a boat in the lagoon for years. (Leslie Katz/The Examiner)
KC Turner is known for presenting cool concerts in intimate settings. <ins>(Courtesy photo)</ins>

Promoter KC Turner survives COVID with backyard concerts

Music presenter continues to stage live driveway shows in The City

KC Turner is known for presenting cool concerts in intimate settings. <ins>(Courtesy photo)</ins>
The July lineup at Feinstein’s at the Nikko includes, clockwise from left, Liz Callaway, Eva Noblezada, Tuck & Patti, Lillias White and Natalie Douglas.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>

Feinstein’s cabaret stars celebrate coming home to SF

Old friends return to intimate room, with COVID protocols in place

The July lineup at Feinstein’s at the Nikko includes, clockwise from left, Liz Callaway, Eva Noblezada, Tuck & Patti, Lillias White and Natalie Douglas.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>
The San Francisco Symphony played its annual Stern Grove Festival Independence Day concert, with conductor Edwin Outwater leading a repeat of the orchestra’s summer opening concert at Davies Hall on July 2. (Christopher Victorio/Special to The Examiner)

San Francisco Symphony in full bloom

Orchestra plays American-themed concert in full-capacity Davies Hall

  • Jul 4, 2021
The San Francisco Symphony played its annual Stern Grove Festival Independence Day concert, with conductor Edwin Outwater leading a repeat of the orchestra’s summer opening concert at Davies Hall on July 2. (Christopher Victorio/Special to The Examiner)
Rotimi Agbabiaka — who acts, writes, directs and teaches — appears in this summer’s San Francisco Mime Troupe podcast series, “Tales of the Resistance Vol. 2.” (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Rotimi Agbabiaka: Transforming perceptions onstage and off

Bay Area actor naturally, skillfully embodies varied gender roles, identities

Rotimi Agbabiaka — who acts, writes, directs and teaches — appears in this summer’s San Francisco Mime Troupe podcast series, “Tales of the Resistance Vol. 2.” (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)