Hello! (◕‿◕✿) Today I’m trying something a little different. Earlier this week I sent a chat out to my subscribers who use the Substack app and explained that I’ve been considering turning Discussion Candy, which currently exists as an unstructured blog, into a true newsletter. That mostly means localizing my content and building a predictable content calendar, which will allow me to post more consistently and put my reporting skills (and passion for city gossip <3) to good use for you.
Some content types I’m thinking about:
1) pre-event roundups
2) post-event/nightlife reporting (this will probably be paid content)
3) tiny bar/restaurant reviews
4) Q&As with local cool people
5) updates on what I’m publishing elsewhere, which I always forget to post about on here
On the chat, I got some very positive feedback about this course of action. Of course, I know not all of you live in San Francisco, so content types 1 and 3 might not be as relevant to some. That said, my hope is that a journalistic culture newsletter will allow all readers, local and not, to discover new writers/musicians/artists, learn about weird new trends and ideas that emerge here, and enjoy interesting stories that have some actual reporting behind them.
All that is to say, today I’ve compiled a lineup of things happening in the Bay this weekend. I’ve even made some beautiful images for each day, complete with event details and skimmable keywords to summarize the energy I expect the event the give. Why yes I DO pay for Canva! Graphic design is my passion <3
Thursday 10/17 thru Sunday 10/20: Unity Fest 2024
Starting this Thursday (tonight1) through Sunday, Unity, a queer skate brand and artist collective, is putting on a series of art exhibitions, skate shows, and parties called Unity Fest 2024. The skate magazine Thrasher covered last year’s Unity Fest and will probably be there this weekend capturing the four-day experience. From the photos, it looked at once hyped up and intimate, all art and love and very Bay Area.
If you’re curious about the local skate scene or just want to go to a niche art show this weekend, head to Oakland and get down with the collective. Thursday’s festivities begin at Lower Grand Radio shop in Oakland, but the locations are different Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It does not seem to be ticketed, but I’m not 100 percent on that. Details here.
₊˚⊹ ☆ keyword lore ☆ ⊹˚₊
RE: “Jeff Cheung”: Oakland-based artist Jeffrey Cheung is the founder of Unity and the curator of a lot of its events. His style uses a motif of sloping, intertwined bodies with big floppy hands that remind me of the way that fever dreams feel good sometimes. Good person to follow if you want to keep up with Unity stuff and the skate/art world here.
RE: “skills”: Aside from pro skaters and artists that are regularly featured in the SFMOMA, the larger Unity universe also includes a rock band that plays area shows sometimes. Band name? Also Unity. And why not! I happened to see them at the Potrero Hill music venue Bottom of the Hill a few weeks ago, and they put on a hell of a show. Highly recommend catching one if you can.
Saturday 10/19: Charmed in SF pop up / Monster Drawing Rally
On Saturday there are two cutie events that I have on my radar.
Charmed in SF pop up
The first is an all-day Charmed in SF pop up where you can look through thousands of vintage Y2K charms—specifically, the tiny silver Italian kind that link together—and make your own unique charm bracelet. It will certainly rip out your arm hairs, but it will also be so cute and self-actualizing because all the charms are specific to you! I know I sound sarcastic, but I’m being so for real; I’ve been having a little identity crisis this week, and I genuinely think going to this and just letting the charms call to me will help me sort my shit out!
Tickets are available for the 1, 3, 5, or 7 p.m. slots for $45 plus tax, which pays for the bracelet. It does not cover any food or drinks you get at the venue, which is called Mars, a bar and restaurant in the near-the-freeways nowhereland of the city the people (Google Maps) are calling the Design District. Sort of a strange location for such a sweet and girly activity, but I don’t know, I’ve never been to Mars, so maybe the vibes there are so amazing I’ll forget I’m in SOMA.
Reserve tickets here, or just show up and purchase entry at the door.
₊˚⊹ ☆ keyword lore ☆ ⊹˚₊
RE: “West Coast Craft”: Charmed in SF creator Alicia Marazzani often pops up at the Marina craft goods fair West Coast Craft, which I always miss because I’m never thinking about what’s going on in the Marina. Sorry! But the one time I happened to catch WCC I really had the best time. It’s an absolutely massive gathering of local makers. If you’re into that sort of thing, the next WCC is November 23 and 24.
Monster Drawing Rally
The second event is a sort of art-a-thon called the Monster Drawing Rally at The Lab, a gallery and studio space in the Mission. I’ll be honest—initially I thought it was a Halloween thing, like all the artists would be drawing monsters, which frankly would be kind of amazing. Think of the possibilities! Endless! Also, I feel like that’s what the event image (above) is leading me to believe, am I wrong?? Upon further inspection, however, the event page says otherwise: “Combining the energy of a monster truck rally with the creativity and brilliance of the Bay Area arts community,” the 100+ local artists will create work then and there, and all pieces will be available for purchase for a flat rate of $100 once completed. (Well, $125, if you count the ticket.) There will also be a DJ set by The Baptist, dancing and drinking courtesy of Fort Point Brewing, and art-making stations for attendees of all ages. I do hope at least one art piece features a monster in the end.
Tickets here.
Sunday 10/20: Wrestling in the Park
My god. Where to begin with this one? I think you should read the description first:
What it’s like to be a human inside of a body? Pushing and pulling on other humans?? Nevermind the AI cover image for the event (and the tripedal AI wrestlers Partiful sends flying around the screen)—it’s that weird tech vernacular, where people are called “humans,” that immediately tells me that this event is catering to a specific sector of tech people in San Francisco: Very recent transplants that came to work in AI or found their AI startup, are screen-pilled and lonely, and have fallen down the rabbit hole of some combination of AI, planned communities, real estate, and spirituality. And you’re telling me these people are gonna WRESTLE? For THREE HOURS? You better fucking believe I’m going to this.
A source/friend of mine, another culture reporter, sent this my way because they couldn’t cover the story themselves. And I’m glad they did, because this really is a story, of how San Francisco’s tech class attempts to solve the friendship problem, to stave off loneliness and touch hunger with contrived gatherings full of strangers. To compartmentalize social gathering, to optimize out the troubles of “hanging out” with “humans” with apps (always Partiful or Luma) and AI.
The source who sent this to me isn’t quite as critical of this lifestyle/philosophy. I think the story they were imagining was more of like “this oddball event happened in GGP, here are some photos,” which I’m sure I could turn around no problem. But I’m a few weeks off reporting a much longer story about exactly this scene2, and anticipating a reentrance into that world, even for just a short event, puts me a little on edge. Deep in that scene, things can get kind of eerie. At the same time, these people are just people, and I spent a lot of time with some of them while reporting that story. I do understand there’s nuance to it. The individuals I met were generally very intelligent, warm, and forthcoming. But the scene itself, while absolutely fascinating, is just a bit…uncanny. You might say I’m…wrestling…with these feelings on it…
₊˚⊹ ☆ keyword lore ☆ ⊹˚₊
RE: “Volo”: There’s an adult sports league in SF called Volo that comprises a lot of the same people who I bet would come to something like this. And look, I’m sure the Voloers are having a great time. But this year on 4/20, the day everyone goes to Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park and enjoys a joint or two, Volo roped off a huge section of the meadow and had their employees policing the perimeters so only the people who had signed up and paid beforehand could enter the area. And like, jesus! On a city holiday?? Let the people gather! So I have personal beef with Volo. It has become my shorthand for this pay-to-play behavior.
That’s all I’ve got for you this weekend!
Enjoy the supermoon. Now, I’m going to eat dinner and go to a Jewish polka show in North Beach ♪~ ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ Jealous?! Maybe next time I’ll tell you where that is and you can come rock with me.
Apologies for sending this newsletter once this event is literally already happening. Lol. Luckily this particular event goes all weekend. Anyway, excuse me for being shit at time management today !!! but I think once I get a content calendar going, you’ll be able to get these weekend lineups BEFORE the events start. That’d be quite professional don’t you think??
That story, which I wrote for a new city mag, is being edited. It should run soon, and I’ll post when it does.
Loving this new direction Cydney. It's so grounding and soothing to read about what's physically happening somewhere, even if you don't live there at all (like me lol)
Yessss I love this!