In what could be taken as her philosophy of fiction, Sara Thankam Mathews has produced a debut novel, "All This Could Be Different." Mathews controls large block of prose with a clear, involving plot and characters that make strong impressions.

Former San Franciscan Sean Patrick Murtagh offers an impressive debut CD with "The Mario 101," an homage to the great Hollywood tenor Mario Lanza. He'll return to San Francisco for concerts at Martuni's Dec. 18 & 20.

If you're a reader who loves to become lost in a good book and enjoys books featuring younger queer characters, this listing of new and upcoming fiction might be just what you're looking for.

We're not exactly dashing through the snow to get to this week's arts and nightlife events, but you're welcome to don your gay apparel before heading outside.

The cast of the Broadway touring company of "Ain't Too Proud" and special guest Paula West filled A.C.T.'s Strand Theater with soulful jazzy music on November 28 at the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation's first live benefit concert in three years.

In "The Inspection," gay writer and director Elegance Bratton's fictionalized reminiscence of his entry into the Marines, tells of his surviving the near-death trauma known as Boot Camp.

"In retrospect, it had to be a violent end," says Kenny Mellman, recalling the demise of "Kiki and Herb" back in 2007, not long after the locally-formed twosome's last San Francisco performance. They've now reunited for a holiday-themed tour.

Violent shootings and hateful comments contrast sharply with game show victories, sincere comings-out, and personal loss, in this week's TV column.

It wouldn't be Christmas in San Francisco unless chanteuse extraordinaire Connie Champagne brings her annual Judy Garland holiday show to Martuni's.

The Adler Fellows class of 2022 will appear in their final concert of the year, 'The Future Is Now: Adlers in Concert' on Friday, Dec. 2 at the Herbst Theatre.

There's a super-abundance of energy on Berkeley stages this holiday season. Shotgun Players' "Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812" and Wise Children's "Wuthering Heights" at the Berkeley Rep each compress the soul of an epic literary masterwork.

Filmed in Austria in 1991, "Flaming Ears" is truly an underground film. Highly acclaimed for its endlessly disruptive narrative —almost to the point of rendering it incomprehensible.

In this new memoir, activist Ron Goldberg candidly and dramatically shares his experiences on the front lines of the ACT UP AIDS protest movements in New York City three and a half decades ago.

While many arts venues will be closed for the weekend, some theaters and museums will bring you amusement, and our local nightlife's notorious for offering ways to shake off some turkey and gravy calories.