Oakland-based Erin Fong has lived in the Bay Area for a decade, and as a continual seeker of inspiration, has created a monthly “Fun List” to inspire others to get out, experience something new, and connect with people in their community.
From art to design, there’s no shortage of inspiration in the area. July offers a tattoo exhibit from Ed Hardy at the De Young, a closet sale from the Bay Area’s most stylish fashionistas, a huge art and book fair, and more.
Get ready for a Yvie Oddly drag show. (Courtesy of @Yvie Oddly)
Yvie Oddly Drag Performance
All you RuPaul Drag Race fans out there will be excited to know that Season 11 winner (and personal fave) Yvie Oddly will be in San Francisco at Mother, a dance club that opens at 10pm with a drag show at 11:30pm. There will also be performances by Gia, Elsa Touche, Intensive Claire, Peggy L’Eggs, Vanilla Meringue and Bionka Simone. //10pm-2am, July 6, Oasis, 298 11th Street , San Francisco; tickets ($20) are available at nightout.com
Don Ed Hardy, ‘Virile Music,’ 1992. Black ink and watercolor on paper, 24 1⁄4 x 19 1⁄4 in. (Courtesy of the De Young)
Ed Hardy: Deeper Than Skin at the De Young Museum
This is the first museum retrospective of the renowned tattoo artist, and local legend, Ed Hardy. The opening night celebration is in collaboration with Juxtapoz Magazine and will feature a DJ set by Chances with Wolves, and a specialty Sailor Jerry cocktail by my fav cocktail makers, Trick Dog. Event is free with RSVP and entry is granted on a first-come first-served basis. // 7:30pm-10pm, July 11, De Young, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.; eventbrite.com
Flower Piano lights up the San Francisco Botanical Garden this month. (Travis Lange)
Flower Piano
Now in its 5th year, Flower Piano tucks 12 pianos throughout the SF Botanical Gardens and invites you in to play. No sweat if you’re not musically inclined, snag a spot to listen at one of the professional performances. There are plenty of events taking place during this 12 day event ranging from weekday lunchtime concerts, three evening concerts, and a special After-Dark event with food trucks and an outdoor bar. // July 11 to 22, SF Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco; ticket (free-$19) are available at sfbg.org/flowerpiano
(Julius Drost)
The San Francisco Magic Hour
The SF Magic Hour is a 75 minute magic show with a different set of performers each month so the show is never the same! You can choose from two different dates to be dazzled this month. // July 15 and July 22, PianoFight, 144 Taylor St. San Francisco; tickets ($20-$40) are available at pianofight.com
(Courtesy of Worldwide Puns)
Bay Area Pun Off
Prepare for a night of laughs. Pun lovers unite at this bi-monthly pun-off competition where the more eye rolls you get the better. If you’re a master punner, enter the competition and prepare to be punned. // July 12, Haight Street Art Center, 215 Haight St. San Francisco, doors at 6:30pm, show at 7pm; tickets ($16) are available at eventbrite.com
Shop the wardrobes of the chic-est fashionistas in the Bay Area. (Courtesy of @thepublicsale)
The Public Sale
Every wish you could shop your cute friend’s closet? Well now you can. The Public Sales is a pop up event that encourages you to buy used from a curated group of fashion and style creatives. Some sellers include Anna Alexia, Angela Tafoya, Becca Lane and Blair Williams. // 5-9pm, July 11, White Rabbit Bar, 3138 Fillmore Street, San Francisco; DM to RSVP at instagram.com/thepublicsale
Jack by Chromaforms is made of welded clear vinyl and sealed air. (Courtesy of Chromaforms)
Blowup II
Bedford Gallery presents a show that is larger than life! Blowup II features a collection of inflatable contemporary art from various artists that explores the imaginative ways that air is used as a tool for creating large-scale sculpture. Though the work tends to be fun and accessible, the imagery can be figurative and abstract and rich with meaning. The show runs until September 15. // Opening 3-5pm, July 14, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek; tickets ($5) are available at bedfordgallery.org
Book and literary lovers rejoice! SF Book Fair is back. (Courtesy of SF Book Fair)
SF Art Book Fair
The San Francisco Art Book Fair, now in its 4th year, brings over 100 independent publishers, antiquarian dealers, artists and collectors to the city for a weekend-long fair that’s free and open to the public. There are also accompanying talks, exhibitions and book releases that happen over the course of the weekend. It is so painfully hip that you’d think that was an underground tunnel straight from Brooklyn. // July 19-21, Minnesota Street Project, Minnesota St, San Francisco; sfartbookfair.com
Showga combines live music, yoga, aromatherapy, and visual designs for a an immersive wellness experience. (Courtesy of Showga)
Queer Showga
OMCA is presenting a special LGBTQ+ edition of Showga, a concert on your yoga mat with Sparkle Thornton leading the flow, live music from Russell E. L. Butler, visual effects, and aromatherapy.First-generation Latinx astrologer AstroSagas will do a live oracle performance. After class, attendees will have exclusive access to Queer California: Untold Stories. Plus, there will also be Japanese fried chicken from Aburaya Oakland, mochi donuts from Third Culture Bakery, and kombucha from GTS Living Foods.
Enjoy life music immersed in a lush grove of trees. (Courtesy of Stern Grove)
Stern Grove Festival
Stern Grove Festival is a free outdoor concert series that takes place every Sunday and runs through the summer. The month of July brings you the San Francisco Symphony (July 7), Mitski and Madeline Kenney (July 14), Toots and the Maytals with Lee Fields and the Expressions (July 21), and the SF Ballet (July 28). Bring a blanket and some snacks and get there early as spots tend to fill up fast. // Every Sunday at 2pm, Stern Grove, 9th Ave. and Sloat Blvd.; sterngrove.org
For even more fun events, pop over to erinloves.fun/funlist or see what I’m up to at @erinlovesfun.
Feature image by Travis Lange.
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