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[Cool] Runnings
Cool Britannia takes the stage at SF Ballet, a video game gallery opening, and a book talk on motherhood and postpartum depression
Cool Britannia was the Spice Girls. At least for preteen Devon. The 90s wave centered the UK as an anchor of cultural production, from its Young British Artists (YBAs) to Alexander McQueen to the iconic Geri Halliwell Union Jack dress. I dragged my dad to the Dallas stop of the 1998 Spice World Tour to witness Posh & company live from Coca-Cola Starplex. I can still picture the concert from our lawn blanket, which presumably left my father nursing his back. Outside of being slightly shellshocked from their performance of "Naked" (I wasn’t the only one), the concert solidified my love of live performances and belting out "Wannabe" in a crowd.
Revel in the second wave of Cool Britannia at SF Ballet, sample tastings from Black spirit makers, and hear real talk on motherhood.
And cheers to our 1-year anniversary of San Francisco Has [No] Culture!
Cool Britannia
Category: Dance
Date: Thursday, February 13th @ 7:30pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: War Memorial Opera House (SF)
Price Range: $39+
Why I Care: I love San Francisco Ballet’s Opening Night Gala. Yes, the glamour is unmatched and the people-watching is utterly satisfying, but it’s the season preview that makes the evening worthwhile. An excerpt from Akram Khan’s Dust knocked the wind right out of me and is one of the three works in the Cool Britannia program. If Mere Mortals left you floored last season, consider this your next ballet adventure with music from Jack White of the White Stripes and costumes designed by legendary Zac Posen.
Craving another hit of British culture? The Mostly British Film Festival is also taking place this week — no passport required.
Opening Reception | Mélanie Courtinat: The Siren
Category: Art
Date: Wednesday, February 12th @ 6pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Gray Area (SF)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: Artist Mélanie Courtinat found her artistic voice through an unconventional medium: video games. More than simply entertainment, video games are her chosen art form to grab, shake, and push the boundaries of traditional narratives in the space. This opening reception is unlike any other I’ve written about as curator Wade Wallerstein will conduct a guided playthrough of The Siren as part of its launch.
Didn’t spend your high school years deep in Final Fantasy? Not to worry: the work is accessible to gaming novices and seasoned players alike.
Benjamin Clementine
Category: Music
Date: Wednesday, February 19th @ 7pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music (East Bay)
Price Range: $45 ($35 at the door)
Why I Care: Sir Paul McCartney would join you at this concert if he could. The knighted Beatle’s admiration for Benjamin Clementine runs so deep that he encouraged the artist to dedicate his life to music. Clementine began his music career as a busker on the streets of Paris, but he credits the philosophy of Kant and Locke for helping him make sense of the world and self-expression. Check out his Tiny Desk concert for a preview of his distinct style.
And considering Clementine played a small role in Dune, I’ll start the rumor that East Bay-native Zendaya may even pop by.
Black Makers Tasting
Category: Culinary
Date: Sunday, February 16th @ 1pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Alkali Rye (East Bay)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: You had a good run, Dry January, but the past few weeks call for a drink (NA included). Enter Alkali Rye, the love child of Jessica Moncada Konte and Kori Chen. The store specializes in BIPOC liquor and NA producers while building community through local programming. Previous events include panels on clothing and sustainability and vintage furniture pop-ups, with a Mahjong & Dominoes Pop-Up on the calendar for the 15th. The Black Makers Tasting will include gin from Common Ground Spirits, bourbon from John Lee Hooker, and tequila from Enelalma. BYO lime and salt.
Rooted: Zine Release & Closing Reception
Category: Art & Literary
Date: Friday, February 14th @ 6pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Galería Studio 24 - Galería de la Raza (SF)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: Rooted is more than an exhibition — it’s a love letter to San Francisco. Curator Xochitl Priscilla, a first-generation, native San Franciscan, has developed a showcase celebrating the narratives of other first-generation locals. The title references the ficus trees of the Mission district, with works that tell the stories of women raised in the historically Latino/a neighborhood. This final day of the exhibition will include limited copies of a zine that memorializes the works and that artists behind them.
Opening Reception: Perhaps Interiors
Category: Art
Date: Saturday, February 15th @ 4pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Jack Fischer Gallery (SF)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: Artist Catie O’Leary uses antique books both as inspiration and material. Her works are excruciatingly precise in using these dated illustrations to meld an entirely new scene. Her work will be presented alongside that of Amy Pleasant as part of the Perhaps Interiors exhibition taking place at Jack Fischer Gallery. Wander the rest of the Minnesota Street Project to check out exhibitions such as re.Riddle’s sound of sun before it closes next week.
Though I can’t help but wonder if any works from last week’s Rare Books Fair found a second life on the gallery walls.
Book Talk | The Motherload: Episodes from the Brink of Motherhood
Category: Literary
Date: Thursday, February 13th @ 6pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Womb House Books (East Bay)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: “No gifts unless it’s drugs”: The request is copied straight from author Sarah Hoover’s baby shower invites. Hoover’s book, The Motherload: Episodes from the Brink of Motherhood, tackles the unexpected emotional distance she experienced with her newborn and her battle with postpartum depression. The raw reflection highlights mental health vulnerabilities as a new parent, regardless of privileged circumstances. The author and former Gagosian director will be in attendance to discuss the book alongside Mother Mag’s Katie Hintz-Zambrano.
Event sold out? Please note I have 2 tickets available for paid subscribers. DM to request.
Next Drop: Thursday, February 20th
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