SoMa Week: Día De Los Muertos, SF Open Studios, Yerba Buena Night & Much More

SoMa Week: Día De Los Muertos, SF Open Studios, Yerba Buena Night & Much MoreSOMArts' annual Día de los Muertos exhibition. (Photo: SOMArts)
Brittany Hopkins
Published on October 08, 2015

Another busy week is almost behind us, but before jumping into the weekend fun, here's what you may have missed.

First, a story that was hard to miss: this Saturday, Zeke's Diamond Bar at the corner of Third and Brannan Streets is saying goodbye to the neighborhood after 23 years. The news came especially hard because Dave's, the 26-year-old dive at Third and Stevenson, had confirmed its impending closure just days before.

The past week also saw a couple of noteworthy crime and safety incidents. 

A stand-off between a suspected car thief and police ended safely last night, with the help of the police department's negotiators and the suspect's cat.

Photo: Officer Grace Gatpandan/Twitter

A collision at Third and Brannan streets Monday sent a woman to the hospital with life-threatening head trauma. SFPD Officer Albie Esparza tells us that the investigation is ongoing, as the department must canvas the area for witness testimony and video surveillance footage. If the driver is found at fault, he will face charges for failing to yield to a pedestrian—or vehicular manslaughter, if the victim dies. At this point, she is still alive, he said.

There were also some updates on future public spaces. The city is in the initial planning stages for a major overhaul of Gene Friend Recreation Center, and wants neighbors' input on the latest concepts. And Little Skillet is nearing the final hours of a Kickstarter to fund a public parklet on Ritch Street.

Looking toward the future, the next couple weeks will be all about art.

For starters, ArtSpan's annual SF Open Studios launches tonight at SOMArts Cultural Center. During the monthlong exhibition, 800 emerging and established San Francisco artists will open their studio doors to the public. To mark the occasion, we sat down with ArtSpan artist Mark Harris to hear about the work he's displaying in his SoMa studio, his experience working with ArtSpan's youth education programs, and the many changes he's seen around town over the past few years.

Preparations for the SF Open Studios opening exhibition. (Photo: ArtSpan/Facebook)

SOMArts' largest exhibition of the year, Day of the Dead, also launches Friday night. Running through Nov. 7th, the exhibition features 70 local artists whose work explores personal loss, as well as local and global issues.

On Saturday, Yerba Buena Night will transform the neighborhood's museum district into an admission-free, nonstop performing-arts festival from 6-10pm.

Finally, the Yerba Buena Alliance is hosting its 24th annual gala next Thursday evening. This year's honorees: the Mexican Museum, which is building a brand-new venue in the neighborhood within the next few years, and Linda Harrison, executive director of the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Now, onto the weekend at hand...

Thursday, October 8th

Ladies' Night Fashion Swap
Meadow Headquarters, 60 13th St.
7pm
Host Description: Hosted by Hemmingway, an alterations app. "Go through your closet and find those special items that you just never wear. Bring them to the event and take your pick from your peers' discarded goodies. However many items you bring is how many items you can take home with you." Admission is $10 and includes snacks and drinks.

Movie Night: Laserblast, Featuring Comedian Panelists
McCoppin Hub
7:30pm
Host Description: "
This week we're screening another episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000: Laserblast w/ Cynic Cave Shows & Lost Weekend Video. The one time it's cool to talk during a movie."

Star Trek Live: "Mudd's Women"
Oasis, 298 11th St.
7pm
Host Description: "
From the same production team that mounted the hit 'Sex & The City! Live' comes a drag rendition of 'Star Trek' unlike anything you've ever imagined. The show stars Leigh Crow, the world’s only female William Shatner impersonator, as Captain Kirk; Honey Mahogany, the flawless drag beauty from 'RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5,' as Uhura; and more."

Friday, October 9th

Gaucho Gypsy Jazz Band
McCoppin Hub
5-7pm
Host Description: "Another super-chill musical event, Commuter Time, is happening this Friday, starring Gaucho Gypsy Jazz Band."

Today Is the Shadow of Tomorrow: Dia de los Muertos 2015
SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St.
Opening event: 6-9pm; runs through Nov. 7th
Host Description: "
Now in its 16th year, the annual Day of the Dead exhibition at SOMArts Cultural Center offers one of the most internationally diverse Día de los Muertos celebrations in the United States. Merging traditional Mexican altars with contemporary art installations, the exhibition presents a visually stimulating and superabundant array of perspectives remembering, honoring, and celebrating the dead. Inspired by cherished relationships, current events, and personal and collective histories, more than 25 altars by over 80 participating Día de los Muertos artists build a dense environment of creativity that makes way for meaningful reflection."

Mortified: Embarrassing Childhood Tales Told Live
DNA Lounge, 375 11th St.
7:30pm
Host Description: "Watch grown men and women share their most embarrassing stories on stage before an audience of total strangers in this grassroots storytelling event that has been applauded by the likes of Newsweek, The Today Show, and This American Life."

Saturday, October 10th

Valencia Street Collective Artisan Fair and Flea + 1 Man Banjo Band
McCoppin Hub
12-4:30pm
Description: The weekly fair at McCoppin Hub, featuring local artisans and vendors plus live music by musical guest 1 Man Banjo from 12-2pm.

Wing Wings 4th Annual Chicken Wing Eating Contest
SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St.
12-4pm
Host Description: "
It's that time of year again! Wing Wings is gearing up for the fourth annual Wing Wings Chicken Wing Eating Contest! Everyone had a great time last year at SOMA StrEat Food Park, and raised a bunch of money for Curry Without Worry."

ArtSpan SF Art Tasting 2015
SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St.
5-7pm
Host Description: "Join us for a taste of art, games, wine, and stimulating discussion at the SF Open Studios Exhibition. Please your palette with Dark Horse Wine tastings while viewing over 400 works of art, sculpture, and jewelry by San Francisco artists. Browse the gallery, get a taste of the artworks on display and hear how jurors and Juror's Choice-Award winning artists selected artwork for the exhibition."

Yerba Buena Night
Yerba Buena District
6-10pm
Host Description: "Yerba Buena Night is a FREE outdoor arts festival in the heart of San Francisco’s most exciting district. Come out and see, hear, and experience the Yerba Buena district come alive with music, video, art, and dance. Enjoy over 30 different types of performance throughout Jessie Square, Yerba Buena Lane, and the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts, with surprises around every corner."

Chillin Productions
Mezzanine, 444 Jessie St.
8pm
Host Description: "70 Fashion Designers, 180 Artists, Video, Installations, Technology, Performances, 7 DJs+ more"

ShangriLa Sailors & Seamen Party
The EndUp, 401 6th St.
10pm
Host Description: "ShangriLa Annual Sailors & Seamen Party, celebrating the Fleet Week and Columbus Day weekends! Wear your cruise attire on this sexy night and come early to get the free sailor-hat giveaways (for first 100 guests)."

Sunday, October 11th

Deco Date: Crafting, Wine & Cheese
Tank18, 1345 Howard St.
3pm
Host Description: "You might never own a vineyard, but this might be as close as you get. Hone your creative side as you create the wine label of your dreams. Tank18 provides the craft supplies, while you decorate your bottle of wine and take it home with you."

Turnpike Troubadours w/ Mike and the Moonpies
Slim's, 333 11th St.
8pm
Host Description: "Times are tough for just about everyone these days, especially for those who live in what is often referred to as the “flyover states,” in the heart of the country. People have become tougher, their skins have grown thicker and they have become much harder to win over. That especially holds true when it comes to the music that rolls into the bars, music halls and honky tonks of their towns. The overwhelming success that Turnpike Troubadours have had on the so-called Red Dirt circuit of those states says a lot about the quintet’s authenticity and fire, particularly because their music is not exactly what that scene in known for producing."

Very Vegan Sunday
SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St.
11am-5pm
Host Description: "Back by popular demand, Funcheap and SoMa StrEat Food Park are continuing a tradition: Very Vegan Sundays! We'll have lots of food trucks & pop-up vendors, vegan beer, vegan mimosas, and lots of vegan specials. Join up with hundreds of fellow vegans at new monthly series at SoMa StrEat Food Park!"