Literary love The “Happy Endings” show features five local writers reading essays, poems, short stories and other words in response to a cheeky prompt. Photo of the “Happy Endings” April ’24 crew by M. T. Eley for The Bold Italic. By M. T. Eley “I’m going to see Happy Endings at the Makeout Room” is a sentence you should wait until a four-bar cellphone signal to say to your wife, but it is nonetheless the start of a good evening. While the Happy Endings Reading Series has filled the seats of the Mission District’s Make Out Room for years now, last week was my first time, an ..read more

San Francisco LGBTQ+ Theatre “Murder At Buck’s” has a rag-tag vibe, but seeing something this raw and unpolished is frankly a breath of fresh air. Now playing at Eclectic Box. Redd FaFilth and Fullout Fritzie perform in Buck’s Motor Lodge playing at Eclectic Box — this weekend only. All photos by Adriana Roberts for The Bold Italic. By Adriana Roberts Murder At Buck’s wants to be many things. It’s a classic “whodunit” murder mystery game. It’s interactive theatre. It’s a drag show. It’s also a welcome reminder of the kind of fun, loosey-goosey shows that used to happen ..read more

Tasty tourism The Ferry Building offers many culinary delights from renowned artisans and chefs, all while enjoying breathtaking views of the bay. Photo by Thomas Hawk. By Virginia Miller San Francisco’s historic Ferry Building is a landmark since 1898 and home to Foodwise’s unparalleled Farmers Market and programs. Inside, the stalls are permanent though some restaurants, shops and purveyors rotate out. Yes, you can weave from creative ice creams at the great Humphry Slocombe, breads from legendary Acme Bread since 1983, on to tea at Imperial Tea Court. But there are stalw ..read more

Fashionable fundraising The annual soirée mixed San Francisco high society with outrageous nightlife fashion, making for a truly memorable evening. Sudan Archives headlines in a multi-instrumental performance at the de Young 2024 Gala. Photo by Dinner Party. I never know what vibe to expect when stepping inside a San Francisco society party, and I’ll admit the de Young’s intimidated me at first. In prior years, the museum hosted celebrities like Emilia Clarke, Kata Mara and Kate Bosworth. Add on top of that some very recognizable names in art, local charity and politics; everyone’s dresse ..read more

Inspiring dance This wasn’t just a dance by a ballet company. It was a triumphant celebration of a culture that’s been underrepresented. Isabella DeVivo and John-Paul Simoens in Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings. Photo by Reneff-Olson Productions. By Katie Sweeney In her first season as artistic director at San Francisco Ballet, Tamara Rojo has proven she is a force to be reckoned with — a creative pushing boundaries and heralding an era of firsts. One of these firsts was observed on April 4, with the opening of Dos Mujeres, a double bill featuring a new version of Carmen, and the North American ..read more

Provoking conversations The event series curates lectures that highlight strange-but-true stories from history, science, art, and adventure, live on stage. All photos of “Odd Salon” by Jenneviere Villegas for The Bold Italic. By Jenneviere Villegas As the sun descended on a chilly springtime afternoon, I walked through the doors of Public Works on Erie Street; the dimly-lit room filled with eager minds, and bartenders poured cocktails concocted with what I assume was a hint of mystery. I stepped into the world of Odd Salon, an event series where curiosity reigns supreme and the truth ..read more

Bootleg Boogie But straight men are welcome, too. Their April 6th party at Cat Club will celebrate “the best mashups in the world ever.” All photos of ‘Bootie’ events courtesy of Adriana Roberts. This article is part of “We Create SF” — a series of essays highlighting artists, performers, small businesses and anyone else that makes San Francisco iconic and irreplaceable. By Allyson Darling Deep side part, wearing tights for warmth under my Forever-21 dress in the San Francisco fog (and to hide my unshaved legs) — I just knew I was going to have to take a cab home but I was excit ..read more

Retro chic nightlife Sleek lines and a color palette that harkens back to the glamour of the Art Moderne movement of the 1930s and 40s. Stookey’s recent expansion is retro chic at its finest. Photo of Stookey’s Blue Room by Nicole Ravicchio. By Virginia Miller Weaned on films of the 1930–1960s as a child, I was a martinis and jazz girl long before I could drink. I dreamed of the kind of 1930s bars and 1940s supperclubs I saw in those movies, teeming with icy martinis, jazz and a beautifully-dressed clientele. When Tim Stookey, his wife Leslie Cole and her cousin Aaron Cole opened Sto ..read more

Hunky Jesus 2024 — Life in plastic IS fantastic On the final day of March, Dolores Park transformed into a spectacle of glitter, glamour, and irreverent celebration as the Sisters kicked off their Easter in San Francisco. All photos by Christopher J. Beale for The Bold Italic. By Christopher J. Beale In the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday my phone goes off intermittently with the same message, “Are you going to Hunky Jesus?” The answer is, of course, yes. Easter in the Park with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence began on Easter Sunday 1979 and as annual San Francisco traditions g ..read more

Rousing pub crawls Curly red wigs flowed through the Castro neighborhood Saturday, inspired by the character Mrs. Roper from the TV show “Three’s Company.” Photo by Darryl Pelletier for The Bold Italic. By Adriana Roberts Shrieks of “Helen!” echoed through the Castro on Saturday afternoon as muumuu’ed mobs of men and women with curly red wigs and colorful caftan dresses took over the neighborhood for the Mrs. Roper Bar Crawl, paying tribute to Helen Roper, the iconic landlady from the late ’70s sitcom, Three’s Company. As far as bar crawls go, it’s not as big as, say, Santa ..read more