Upcoming and ongoing arts and nightlife events include a slew of our Bestie winners, runners-up, and other perennial favorites.

Wait! A plate? After a prolonged period of eating from cardboard delivery containers, refilling our own water glasses, and not flirting with servers, dining in restaurants can feel quite special.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the leather- and kick-themed Folsom Street Fair returned to San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood in all its glory Sunday, September 25.

This year the Besties are even more of a celebration than usual, because this year, after our (ahem) unexpected pause, our nightspots gave us the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, and to celebrate a community reborn.

Kink in all its glory hit the South of Market streets for the annual Folsom Street Fair on Sept. 25. Attendees dressed in leather, rubber, fetish gear, drag —and for some not dressed in much at all— enjoyed strutting their kinky garb.

A new art exhibition will feature a curated selection of photographs, posters, more than forty commissioned works of art, and dresses that offer a rare glimpse inside the glorious and fabulous life of Juanita MORE!

Having matured musically since her hit single "Luka" in 1987, Suzanne Vega's new album, "An Evening of New York Songs & Stories" includes re-recorded old songs as well as new ones.

Leather, rubber and other fetish gear abound at the annual Folsom Street Fair this weekend and at tied in —or tied up— nightlife events this weekend. We've also selected plenty of arts events that don't require such a kinky dress code.

"I am both queer and kinky," said Race Bannon.

The Contemporary Christian Music phenomenon known simply as Semler has earned the distinction of hitting #1 on the Gospel charts twice in one year. It's even more noteworthy that Semler is the first openly queer Christian music artist.

For the second year in a row, San Francisco LeatherWalk returns as the city prepares to usher in Leather Week ahead of the Folsom Street Fair.

We've got musicals, dance concerts, art exhibits — even a cat show and 'Cats' the show!— and nightlife up for grabs this week, including some pre-Folsom Street Fair events. Fall in for the fun.

Cyndi Lauper's infectious score and the cast's all-in performances made the original production —and now the Ray of Light iteration — of 'Kinky Boots' well worth seeing.

Herbst Theatre will echo with previously unheard sounds on Oct. 1, when Alta Sinfonica debuts, taking to the stage with music that combines traditional Latin music forms with what organizers tantalizingly call "urbano sounds."