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[Scent] of a Woman
Our first olfactory experience, an all night concert, and a chance to witness an artist at work
As my memories fade and photographs collect dust, visceral recollections of my grandparent’s house in Louisiana come back through scent. I can’t describe the scent; I can’t even remember it in isolation; but to paraphrase Supreme Court Justice Potter: I know it when I sense it. I’m not alone in that connection between smell and memory, but I still find it otherworldly to have an unexpected whiff suddenly transport me to that Baton Rouge living room and all the warmth it had to give.
Take a Christmas Day field trip to a museum of scents, ring in an early new year with Buddhist traditions, and dance the night away at The Regency Ballroom.
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents
Category: Olfactory
Date: Wednesday, December 25th @ 10am (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (East Bay)
Price Range: $25
Why I Care: The ‘Olfactory’ category is making a newsletter debut. The Aftel Archive of Curious Scents was founded by Mandy Aftel, a perfumer with decades of experience in the industry. The institution is a total Yelp banger with its 5 star rating and a string of attendees floored by the history, depth, and care put into experiencing the art of smell. If catching Santa already dominates your Christmas Day plans, pop by the museum every Saturday starting at 10am to enjoy this hidden Berkeley gem.
39th Annual Japanese New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremony
Category: Art
Date: Sunday, December 29th @ 1pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Asian Art Museum (SF)
Price Range: $20 (museum admission)
Why I Care: If you’ve ever been tempted to celebrate NYE “on East Coast hours” (aka 9pm PT), have I got the afternoon jubilee for you. The Asian Art Museum will be ringing in the New Year with a 16th-century Japanese temple Bell, a purification ritual, and a recital of the Buddhist Heart Sutra. The ceremony will be anchored in Buddhist tradition while also allowing for all visitors to ring the ceremonial bell. Once you’ve found inner peace, get a jolt of K-pop at the Hallyu! The Korean Wave exhibition before it closes on January 6th.
Flight Facilities: The Decades Tour
Category: Music
Date: Friday, December 27th @ 9pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Regency Ballroom (SF)
Price Range: $42
Why I Care: This concert is blowing past those Bay Area bedtimes with 5 hours of DJing spanning 5 decades of music. Flight Facilities is the electronic duo behind personal faves like “Crave You,” “Foreign Language,” and the most near and dear to my heart: “Arty Boy.” The musical extravaganza is an amuse-bouche for their Saturday set, whose only time description is “all night long.” So grab that espresso martini and make the most of our final weekend in 2024. Good riddance!
Community Wellness Dance Class
Category: Dance
Date: Friday, December 20th @ 2pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Berkeley Public Library - North Branch (East Bay)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: Movement is a blessing, and the time and space to revel in it feels limited and precious. The Berkeley Public Library system is sensitive to that fact and holds a free community dance class every Friday to introduce simple warm-ups, rhythm, and choreography to those of varying fitness, skill, and comfort levels. No prior dance experience required; no judgement passed.
If you’re looking for a bit more semitism in your step, consider the Marin JCC’s free Ecstatic Jewish Dance Group on the 23rd.
Bass & Reiner Gallery: Special Event
Category: Art
Date: Saturday, December 21st @ 3pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Bass & Reiner Gallery (SF)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: Artist Joshua Moreno is making the most of the shortest day of the year, and you’re invited to tag along. Moreno will spend the twilight hours of the winter solstice producing artwork on the walls of Bass & Reiner Gallery through a live drawing session. As anyone that’s ever ever watched Bob Ross knows (… so hopefully as everyone knows), there’s something meditative about watching an artist in process, making an opportunity to sit back, relax, and witness some happy accidents.
Mercy Vintage: Glitter Up Holiday Bazaar
Category: Fashion
Date: Saturday, December 21st @ 11am (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Mercy Vintage (East Bay)
Price Range: Free
Why I Care: I went to Mercy Vintage earlier this week with a singular goal: buy a Christmas gift. I left with a new pair of black jeans. But this Saturday is a chance for us distracted gift buyers to redeem ourselves! Mercy Vintage will be hosting a last minute bazaar of vintage clothing and fine jewelry, all with a DJ to set the mood. So grab a reasonably-sized tote bag, keep your eyes on the prize, and find that second-to-last minute gift. Ok and maybe try on like one thing.
Opening Reception: Forgotten Places of Beings and Things
Category: Art
Date: Friday, December 20th @ 6pm (Add to Google Calendar)
Location: Heron Arts (SF)
Price Range: Free (RSVP required)
Why I Care: Paper and light: two simple materials that can result in the most intricate and magical of objects. Husband and wife artist duo Hari & Deepti recognize that power and have honed a practice of producing works of art made entirely from manipulated paper and light. This opening reception at Heron Arts is an opportunity to meet the artists and witness their approach to storytelling through dedication and an Xacto-knife.
Let that inspiration carry you into creative paper snowflake-making, and here’s wishing everyone a peaceful holiday season.
Next Drop: Monday, December 30th
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