Tenderloin Week: Bread and Puppet Theater, Dance Film Festival, Elton John Cabaret, & More

Tenderloin Week: Bread and Puppet Theater, Dance Film Festival, Elton John Cabaret, & MoreNew mural commissioned by The Luggage Store at Turk and Taylor. (Photo: Brittany Hopkins/Hoodline)
Brittany Hopkins
Published on October 09, 2015

To close out the week in Tenderloin news, here's what you may have missed:

Police have arrested a suspect in Tuesday evening's homicide. The 62-year-old San Franciscan is being charged with murder, felon in possession of a firearm and two outstanding traffic warrants. However, police are still encouraging anyone with information on the case to call the SFPD's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message.

Public Works recently painted a few more walls around the Tenderloin with urine-repellent paint, and plans to paint a few more in the coming weeks. But whether the paint actually repels urinators remains an open question, after MissionLocal's investigation found mixed results. Have you noticed improvements in hotspots near you?

The Vietnamese Youth Development Center is working to fulfill a need in the neighborhood: mental health counseling for youth. Here's how the nonprofit is drawing in teenagers, who are typically averse to partaking in such programs.

Just outside the Tenderloin, Mid-Market's transformation continues. Group i released new renderings of the residential and hotel development it plans to construct in place of the entire stretch of dilapidated and largely vacant buildings adjacent to the Crazy Horse. The Chronicle reports that this is one of three Mid-Market developments that's been recently revised, with a nice comparison of the projects' architectural transformations.

Renderings: Group i

On the same block, we learned that a new wine bar and restaurant, Waystone, is in the works, with hopes of offering the neighborhood a casual, yet refined dining option at noon and night.

Also on the food front, the New York Times shined a light on the Mid-Market neighborhood's burgeoning restaurant scene, and how the likes of Alta CA, The Hall and The Market are fueling Market Street's revitalization.

Back in the heart of the Tenderloin, there's a variety of must-see events planned through the next week.

Bread and Puppet Theater,"one of the oldest, nonprofit, self-supporting theatrical companies in the country," is making a stop in the Tenderloin National Forest from 1-4pm this Sunday. The Luggage Store has the details.

Photo: Mark Dannenhauer/Bread and Puppet Theater

And here's one for the neighborhood's history buffs: The Tenderloin Museum is hosting a screening of Smut Capital of America next Thursday evening. The film explores the birth of the United States pornography industry right here in the Tenderloin; its director, Mike Stabile, will be on hand to give a brief lecture on the subject.

Without further ado, here's a few more highlights coming up this weekend:

Friday

#TGIFCREW
The Basement, 222 Hyde St.
7pm
Host Description: "Come wash the week off with some yummy cocktails and tunes! Music by 'Starcat and friends.' Every Friday."

Switchboard Presents Matt Linder and HKTCS
Center 4 New Music, 55 Taylor St.
7:30pm
Host Description: "
Matt Linder of Mobius Trio performs a new solo work for electric & acoustic guitar developed in collaboration with Danny Clay, followed by the debut of HK&tCS (Hella Khords & the Consonant Tones), a new quartet of trombone, cello, flute, and electronics featuring Helen Newby, Bethanne Walker, Weston Olencki, and Chris Wood."

Tad Robinson
Biscuits & Blues, 401 Mason St.
7:30 & 10pm
Host Description: "
From his Manhattan roots and his Indiana and Chicago musical upbringing, Tad has caught the attention of the music world with his seven Blues Music Award nominations (the Grammys of blues music) and his many recordings, including the song 'Rained All Night,' which was nominated for Blues Song of the Year at the 2011 Blues Music Awards."

The Theater of Others: Macbeth
Kelly Cullen Auditorium, 220 Golden Gate Ave.
8pm
Host Description: "Macbeth, a duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself. The personal consequences of his actions are profound, affecting the mind and spirit of both himself and his wife."

Needles to Thread: Dancing Along These Lines in Continuum Alley
Continuum Alley & Golden Gate Ave.
8 & 9pm
Host Description: "Choreographer and aerial site­-artist Jo Kreiter presents an off the ground dance production suspended between buildings in a Tenderloin alley. Needles to Thread: Dancing Along These Lines in Continuum Alley is the third in a trilogy of site­-specific aerial dances about urban poverty, Needles to Thread takes on the issue of wage security for women through the story of San Francisco’s garment workers past and present."

Tornado Espinoza: Improvisation and Sketch Comedy
PianoFight, 144 Taylor St.
9pm
Host Description: "Once a month, the epic storm of improvisational and sketch comedy that is Tornado Espinoza sweeps through the confines of San Francisco's PianoFight, leaving a trail of busted guts, blown minds and general devastation in its wake. A bit hyperbolic? Perhaps, but these seasoned Bay Area improvisers, including Chris Hayes, Sam Shaw, Jamie Wright, Lily Harvey, Cassidy Brown, Rob Miles and special guests, certainly know their way around a sketch. Catch these quick-witted actor-comedians in a new installment each month, composed of on-the-spot sketches that'll have you in stitches."

Kat Kat Kat Does Elton Elton Elton
PianoFight, 144 Taylor St.
11pm
Host Description: "Former Voice contestant and lady-about-town Kat Robichaud, along with her ivory-tickler Brenden Getzell, treat you to a night of self-indulgent Elton John standards. It's a giant Elton John sing-a-long! And YES, we do take requests. So grab your bejeweled bug-egged sunglasses and strap on your glittery platform heels and join us beyond the yellow brick road."

Saturday

Adults! Visit The Mix!
Main Public Library, 100 Larkin St.
10-11:30am
Host Description: "Are you interested in learning more about The Mix? Whether you're a parent, educator, youth service provider, or even just an adult interested in learning how you can get involved, this event is the first step. We start with a tour of The Mix, highlighting our state-of-the-art youth-designed space, and end with an optional orientation where you can learn about the philosophy of The Mix, the resources we can provide, and the ways that adults can get involved to help us succeed, including how to propose a program for The Mix."

Dance Film Forum
Main Public Library, 100 Larkin St.
10:30am
Host Description: "The San Francisco Public Library hosts a special event as part of the 6th annual San Francisco Dance Film Festival (October 8-11) welcoming dance filmmakers from around the world for a discussion about their films and their ideas for development in the field."

Tenderloin Walking Tours
Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy St.
11am & 2pm
Host Description: "Real life. Real streets. Our resident historians give you an insider’s view of the Tenderloin past and present. Our guided Walking Tours offer the best way to get to know the Tenderloin. As longtime tour guide Del Seymour says, 'You’ll enjoy a Fisherman’s Wharf tour, but you’ll most remember a Tenderloin tour.'"

The Theater of Others: Macbeth
Kelly Cullen Auditorium, 220 Golden Gate Ave.
8pm
Host Description: "Macbeth, a duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself. The personal consequences of his actions are profound, affecting the mind and spirit of both himself and his wife."

The Setup: Standup Comedy
The Basement, 222 Hyde St.
8pm
Host Description: "We feature established comedians from around the country as well as local up-and-coming stars. San Francisco is known for indulging and incubating the absurd whims, oddities, and genius of the freaks who call it home. Think Lenny Bruce, Robin Williams, and Margaret Cho. In this crazy spirit, The Setup provides a truly unique and memorable San Francisco comedy experience."

Needles to Thread: Dancing Along These Lines in Continuum Alley
Continuum Alley & Golden Gate Ave.
8 & 9pm
Host Description: "Choreographer and aerial site­-artist Jo Kreiter presents an off the ground dance production suspended between buildings in a Tenderloin alley. Needles to Thread: Dancing Along These Lines in Continuum Alley is the third in a trilogy of site­-specific aerial dances about urban poverty, Needles to Thread takes on the issue of wage security for women through the story of San Francisco’s garment workers past and present. Join us at 7pm before the Saturday performances for pre-show walking tours of local labor landmarks."

Narcissists Anonymous' BIG TIME LIVE!
PianoFight, 144 Taylor St.
9pm
On the second Saturday of every month, Narcissists Anonymous presents BIG TIME LIVE!  We put on the wildest & funniest variety show in town, with crazy characters, vicious self-mockery, and sometimes even real movie stars!

Sunday

Bread and Puppet: Play in The Tenderloin
Tenderloin National Forest/Luggage Store Annex, 511 Ellis St.
1-4pm
Host Description: "Bread and Puppet Cantastoria performances in the Tenderloin National Forest with bread and aioli; stew made 'Fresh from the Oven' by Amara Tabor Smith; sewing with The Mending Library. In the Luggage Store Annex Gallery: Bread and Puppet’s 'Cheap Art' Sale and art activities for children with ArtsEd4All."

The Theater of Others: Macbeth 
Kelly Cullen Auditorium, 220 Golden Gate Ave.
2pm
Host Description: "Macbeth, a duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself. The personal consequences of his actions are profound, affecting the mind and spirit of both himself and his wife."

Tenderloin Walking Tours
Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy St.
2pm
Host Description: "Real life. Real streets. Our resident historians give you an insider’s view of the Tenderloin past and present. Our guided Walking Tours offer the best way to get to know the Tenderloin. As longtime tour guide Del Seymour says, 'You’ll enjoy a Fisherman’s Wharf tour, but you’ll most remember a Tenderloin tour.'"

Jules Leyhe
Biscuits & Blues, 401 Mason St.
7 & 9pm
Host Description: "
It’s hard to find a true blues guitarist in today’s musical landscape, but that’s exactly what you get with Jules Leyhe. With the soul of a musician three times his age, Leyhe combines classic blues guitar with modern electronic instrumentation and creates a sonic mesh you’ll surely feel in your core."