Arts Events Dec 5-12, 2019

FRI 6
Alaska: A Very Lilith Fair Christmas @ Oasis
The popular RuPaul's Drag Race star performs her tribute to women's music and the holidays. $24-$60. 7pm Also Dec 7. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi
The musical comedy revue celebrates its final year with fun lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25-$160. Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. Wed-Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm & 9pm. Sun 2pm & 5pm. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd. (Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

A Christmas Carol @ Geary Theater
American Conservatory Theater's annual lavish production of the Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh's acclaimed stage adaptation of the the Charles Dickins holiday story. $10-$150. Thru Dec 24. 415 Geary St. www.act-sf.org

David Benoit's Charlie Brown Christmas @ Yoshi's Oakland
The composer of the classic Peanuts jazz songs performs with his band, and vocalist Sara Gazarek, at the stylish restaurant-nightclub. $46-$84. 8pm & 10pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. www.yoshis.com

Groundhog Day the Musical @ SF Playhouse
Tim Minchin and Danny Rubin's musical adaptation of the surreal-comic Bill Murray film about a weatherman who gets stuck repeating the same day. $35-$125. Thru Jan 18. 450 Post St. www.sfplayhouse.org

Gypsy @ Alcazar Theatre
The classic Styne, Sondheim, Laurents musical about the life of Gypsy Rose Lee and her vaudeville family gets a Bay Area Musicals local production. $30-$100. 8pm. Thru Dec. 8. 650 Geary St. www.bamsf.org

Head Over Heels @ New Cosnervatory Theatre Center
The music of the Go-Go's, with story and book by Sir Philip Sydney and Jeff Whitty, presents a royal modern fairy tale. $34-$49. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Jan 12. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. www.nctcsf.org

Holiday Curtain Call @ Harvey Milk Center for the Arts
MC Bill Cooper and pianist Barry Lyod host the cabaret open mic. 7pm-10pm. 50 Scott St. www.societycabaret.com

Older and Out @ North Berkeley Senior Center
Weekly group discussion about problems for elders in the LGBT community. 3:15pm. 1901 Hearst Ave., Berkeley. www.pacificcenter.org

The Rainbow Flag: A Children's History @ GLBT History Museum
Author Michelle Millar Fisher and illustrator Kat Kuang will read from their new children's book about Gilbert Baker; timed with Performance, Protest & Politics: Gilbert Baker's Art, a new exhibit of the works and ephemera by and about the creator of the Rainbow Flag. $5. 7pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus @ Sydney Goldstein Theater
The Chorus' annual holiday concert series Holigays Are Here: Ring Them Bells, with guest performers Velocity Handbell Ensemble. $25-$110. 7:30pm. Dec 7, 3pm & 7pm. 275 Hayes St. Also Dec. 24 at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. www.sfgmc.org

SAT 7
Animation Exhibits @ Walt Disney Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World (thru Jan 6), and other exhibits of animation art by the prolific studio's artists. 104 Montgomery St, The Presidio. $5-$25. 10am-6pm. Closed Tue. http://wdfmuseum.org/

The Batman Armory @ Cartoon Art Museum
Artwork, Batman props and costumes on display, thru Feb. 16. Pre-Code Horror: Scary Stories and Ghastly Graphics from EC Comics, thru March 1. Free/$10. 11am-5pm daily; closed Wed. 781 Beach St. www.cartoonart.org

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child @ Curran Theater
The West Coast premiere of the acclaimed two-part play about Harry Potter's son, and his time-traveling misadventures at Hogwarts Academy, includes amazing special effects in the transformed Curran Theater. Same-day and subsequent night tickets available. $59-$300. Thru July 12, 2020. 445 Geary St. www.harrypottertheplay.com https://sfcurran.com/

Hawaiian Holiday Craft & Bake Sale @ Unitarian Universalist Church of Marin
20th annual bake sale fundraiser with gifts, lunches, baked goods, desserts and food, live music and hula classes. 10am-54pm. 240 Channing Way, San Rafael. www.uumarin.org

Holiday Cabaret @ Harvey Milk Center for the Arts
Jennifer Ekman, Heather Paton Watson and Jill Gould share a jazz-pop night of holiday songs, with pianist G. Scott Lacy. $30-$50. 8pm. 50 Scott St. www.societycabaret.com

Holiday Gaiety @ Davies Symphony Hall
San Francisco Symphony's mirthful holiday concert features Ana Gasteyer, with host Peaches Christ, Coco Peru, Courtney Act, Fou Fou Ha, Sister Roma and Kylie Minono. $20-$119. 7:30pm. 201 Van Ness Ave. www.sfsymphony.org

Interior/Exterior @ Museum of Craft & Design
Group exhibit of works curated by Ariel Zaccheo; also, Dead Nuts: a search for the ultimate machined object, curated by David Cole; both thru Dec. 1. 2569 3rd St. https://sfmcd.org

James Tissot @ Legion of Honor
James Tissot: Fashion & Faith (thru Feb 9); Strange Days: Dada, Surrealism, and the Book (thru Nov 10), other beautiful exhibits of classical and modern art. Free/$30. Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave. https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/

Kaleidoscope @ Exploratorium
Artist Karina Smigla-Bobinski's exhibit of interactive swirling electronic colors panels; thru Jan 20. Also, Cells to Self, an exhibit with amazing displays showing how single cells in the human body work, portraits engineered from DNA and more (talks, hands-on workshops and nightlife events). $20-$30. Pier 15 at Embarcadero. www.exploratorium.edu

Lee Fields and The Expressions @ Slim's
The soul-funk master performs with Gene Washington & The Sweet Sounds. $25. 9pm. 333 11th St. www.slimspresents.com

LGBTQ Histories from the WWII Home Front
@ Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center, Richmond
Park indoor exhibit that showcases the lives of historic LGBT people. Open daily 10am-5pm. 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond. www.nps.gov/rori/index.htm

Modern Art Exhibits @ SF MOMA
Nov 14: Zackary Drucker and Susan Stryker discuss the photography exhibit of works by April Dawn Alison (7pm, floor 1). Soft Power, a new exhibit of 20 artists, 12 countries, 58 new works. The Chronicles of San Francisco, photo-muralist JR's interactive community giant group portrait; also, Don't! Photography and the Art of Mistakes; Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space; other exhibits of Modern art. Free/$25. Fri-Tue 10am-5pm; Thu 10am-9pm. 151 3rd St. www.sfmoma.org

Nutcracker Sweets @ Cowell Theater
Mark Foehringer's annual dance concert, an abbreviated lighthearted adaptation of The Nutcracker Suite. $20-$43. Sat & Sun thru Dec 22. 2 Marina Blvd. www.mfdpsf.org www.fortmason.org

Other Cinema @ ATA Gallery
Weekly screenings of wacky, unusual, short, documentary and animated films; free books, vinyl, VHS and wine. $7. 8:30pm. 992 Valencia St. www.othercinema.com

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink @ Union Square
The ice rink in the middle of downtown SF is open for skating fun. Skate rentals $3-$18. 10am-11:30pm thru Jan. 20. Union Square, 333 Post St. www.unionsquareicerink.com

Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels
Wheeled fun at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the "Godfather of Skate," including Saturday's Black Rock night (Burning Man garb encouraged). 7pm-10pm. Sat afternoon sessions 1pm-2pm and 3pm-5pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5. Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com

Steve Knill @ The F'Inn
The talented singer who rose to fame on The Voice performs an intimate concert telling of his musical journey. $30. 7pm. 814 Grove St. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4424848

The Tale of Despereaux @ Berkeley Rep
Pigpen Theatre Co.'s inventive and imaginative musical retelling of the beloved, Newberry Medal-winning modern fable. $35-$85. 7pm & 2pm thru Jan. 5. 2015 Addison Ave., Berkeley. www.berkeleyrep.org

Testmatch @ Strand Theater
American Conservatory Theater's production of Kate Attwell's dual-story about women's cricket and British colonialism and power. $15-$110. Tue-Sat 7:30pm. Wed & Sat 2pm. Thru Dec. 8. 1127 Market St. www.act-sf.org

Under the Tree for Under a Grand @ ArtHaus
Special exhibit of workds for sale, all under $1000, with champagne, music, treats and free gift-wrapping. 12pm-5pm. 228 Townsend St. www.arthaus-sf.com

SUN 8
Black Flag, The Dickies @ Slim's
The veteran punk band (minus Henry Rollins) performs; the Linecutters also play. $30. 8pm. 333 11th St. www.slimspresents.com

Cirque du Soleil @ Oracle Park
The amazing circus company brings Amal�na to the big tent. Pre-show festivities 6:30pm. Show 8pm. $54-$300. Wed-Mon most 8pm, +matinees. Thru Jan. 12. 24 Willie Mays Plaza (cross bridge to parking lot). www.cirquedusoleil.com

Ecstatic Dance @ Sacred Heart Church
Weekly group freeform dance with a spiritual flavor at the former church-turned event space. $15. 9am-12pm. Also Wed. and Fridays in Oakland and Fairfax. 554 Fillmore St. www.ecstaticdance.org

Exclusion @ Presidio Officers Club
Exhibit documenting the Presidio's Japanese-American incarceration during World War II; other exhibits show the history of the former military base and the SF peninsula. Also, Andy Goldsworthy's fascinating outdoor sculpture exhibit three-mile walking tour. Free, Tue-Sun 10am-5pm; extended thru June 2020. 50 Maraga Ave. www.presidio.gov/officers-club/exhibitions/

High Tea with Gravity @ CounterPulse
Fundraiser for dance-performance company Jess Curtis/Gravity, with tea (served with real china, on real tablecloths; drag attire in leopard-print welcome), drag queens, snacks, and brief performances by the company members. $10-$100. 2pm-4pm. 80 Turk St. www.jesscurtisgravity.org www.counterpulse.org

Howard Zinn Book Fair @ City College Mission Campus
Sixth annual gathering of left political book publishers, zinesters and authors, with panels and readings. 10am-6pm. 1125 Mission St. www.howardzinnbookfair.com

Illuminate SF @ Citywide
40+ installations of light art sculptures in and outside buildings by more than 30 local artists. Free; walking tour info at www.illuminatesf.com

The Mistletones @ Gateway Theatre
42nd St. Moon's holiday-themed comedy singing revue, with twists on hits from the '50s to today. $20-$30. Thru Dec. 17. 215 Jackson St. www.42ndStMoon.org

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man @ Oakland Museum
No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, an exhibit of amazing large artworks; thru Feb 16. Free/$15. 1000 Oak St. http://museumca.org/

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley
Same-sex partner tango dancing, including lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30pm-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. www.finnishhall.org

Plant Exhibits @ Conservatory of Flowers
Artfully arranged plant and floral exhibits; special evening events and parties, including Night Bloom evening events. 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, Golden Gate Park. https://conservatoryofflowers.org

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley
Same-sex partner tango dancing, including lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30pm-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. www.finnishhall.org

Sprightly @ SF Public Library
Weekly hangout for LGBTQ youth, with crafts, snacks and activities. 12:30pm-2:30pm. James C. Hormel Center, 3rd floor, 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Various Exhibits @ de Young Museum
Specters of Disruption (thru Nov 10) and exhibits of Modern and historic art, including embroidery, Maori portraits and installations. Free/$28. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. www.famsf.org

Winter Park @ Civic Center
Enjoy holiday festivities, ice skating, and concessions; open Thanksgiving; 12pm-9pm thru Jan 5. $13-$18. Civic Center, Grove St. at Polk. www.winterparkicerinksf.com

MON 9
Andy Goldsworthy @ Presidio
Enjoy a fascinating outdoor sculpture exhibit and three-mile walking tour. Free, extended thru June 2020. 50 Maraga Ave. www.presidio.gov/officers-club/exhibitions/

The Continuous Thread @ SFAC Main Gallery
Celebrating Our Interwoven Histories, Identities and Contributions, an exhibit of photos of indigenous Americans, coordinated with projections on the former Pioneer Monument statue in Civic Center. Thru Dec 14. 401 Van Ness Ave. www.sfartscommission.org

Fiberful @ NIAD Art Center, Richmond
Exhibits of art by visiting professionals, and art made by developmentally disabled people; new exhibits include Fiberful, a fabric sculpture group exhibit, Tippy Toes: Terry Hoff, and Right Here, Right Now, Richmond. Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. 551 23rd St., Richmond. (510) 620-0290. www.niadart.org

Exhibits @ Chabot Space & Science Museum, Oakland
Space, science and planetary exhibits, including planetarium shows and the Observatory; special nighttime events like meteor shower shows. Free-$18. 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. www.chabotspace.org

Help is on the Way for the Holidays @ Marines' Memorial Theatre
The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation's 18th holiday concert fundraiser, with Sheryl Lee Ralph (original Dreamgirls), Lisa Vroman, David Hernandez, Darnell Abraham (Hamilton), Shawn Ryan, Sony Holland, Steve Knill, Jessica Coker & Lisa Viggiano and cast members from Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. $75-$150. 6pm VIP reception; silent and live auctions, after-party with drinks and desserts, too. Holiday cocktail attire suggested. 450 Powell St. www.reaf.org

William Blake in Color @ William Blake Gallery
Exhibit of classic plates in the new gallery of historic art by the 18th- and 19th-century poet and illustrator. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Sat 11am-5pm. 49 Geary St. #205. www.williamblakegallery.com

X @ The Independent
The indie rock-punk band and underground fave performs; Los Straijackets (surf rock) open. $35-$100. 8pm. Also Dec 10. 628 Divisadero. www.theindependentsf.com

TUE 10
Lost at Sea @ Asian Art Museum
Recovered Art From Shipwrecks, a new exhibit of antiquities discovered in oceans (thru Mar. 22); also, Chang Dai-chien (thru April 26), contemporary works by Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, Kim Heecheon and Liu Jianhua; and exhibits of historic sculptures, prints and antiquities. Sunday caf� specialties from $7-$16. Free-$20. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. http://www.asianart.org/

Floral Exhibits @ SF Botanical Garden
Visit the lush gardens with displays of trees, flowers and shrubs from around the world, including the annual Magnolia bloom. Monthly plant sales, plus art exhibits and gift shop; free entry with SF proof of residency. $5-$10 for others. 7:30am-closing. 9th Ave at Lincoln Way. https://sfbotanicalgarden.org/

Gallery of Illustrious Queers @ SF Main Library
Photographer Jordan Reznick's LGBT portrait photo exhibit. Hormel Center, 3rd floor, 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Expedition Reef @ California Academy of Sciences
Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth; Skin, a multi-species hands-on exhibit; Deep Reefs, Giants of Land and Sea, Gems and Minerals, and more. $20-$35. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Pink Martini @ SF Jazz
The amazing 'little orchestra' performs five nights of residency concerts. $75-$85. Thru Dec 15. 201 Franklin St. www.sfjazz.org

Remarkable WWII Rosie @ Jewett Gallery, SF Main Library
Opening reception with painter Carol Witten, who discusses her exhibit of portraits of women factory workers during World War II; 3pm. Exhibit thru Jan. 26. 100 Larkin St, lower level. www.sfpl.org

World Tree of Hope @ Grace Cathedral
14th annual lighting celebration of the beautiful tree decorated with 1000s of origami cranes inscribed with messages of hope, with MC Honey Mahogany, performers Connie Champagne, Breanna Sinclair�, Juanita MORE!, 42nd St. Moon actors, The Sisters and several locall dignitaries. 6:30pm-8:30pm. 1100 California St. www.worldtreeofhope.org

WED 11
Black is Beautiful: The Photography of Kwame Brathwaite @ MOAD
Exhibit of prints by the Harlem Renaissance photographer of the 1950s and '60s. thru Mar. 1. $5-$10. 685 Mission St. www.moadsf.org

John Sanborn: In Translation @ Telematic
The veteran media/video art director-producer has his first solo show in San Francisco. Wed-Sat 11am-4pm thru Dec. 14. 323 19th St. www.tttelematiccc.com

Naked Men's Sketch @ Eros
Get naked and take turns modeling at the sex club's popular weekly event. Donations/no entrance fee. 7pm-9pm. 2051 Market St. www.erossf.com

Richard Caldwell Brewer @ Lost Art Salon
Exhibit of works by the late gay artist (1923-2014). Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 245 South Van Ness Ave., #303. https://lostartsalon.com/

The San Quentin Project @ BAM/PFA
Nigel Poor and the Men of San Quentin State Prison follows the evolution of artist Nigel Poor's (b. 1963) social art practice and her collaboration with the men incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County; thru Nov. 17. Also, Strange, a Surrealist-inspired group exhibit of works by Goya, Magritte, Cindy Sherman, Jack Smith, and many others, thru Jan 5, 2020. 2155Center St. Berkeley. www.bampfa.org

Thievery Corporation @ The Fox Oakland
The pop-groove-funk band performs; Brazilian Girls opens. $50. 8pm. 1807 Telegraph ave., Oakland. www.thefoxoakland.com

Various Events @ Oakland LGBTQ Center
Social events and meetings at the new LGBTQ center include film screenings and workshops, including Bruthas Rising, trans men of color meetings, 4th Tuesdays, 6:30pm. Film screenings, 4th Saturdays, 7:30pm. Game nights, Fridays 7:30pm-11pm. Vogue sessions, first Saturdays. 3207 Lakeshore Ave. Oakland. https://www.oaklandlgbtqcenter.org/

THU 12
Annabeth Rosen
@ Contemporary Jewish Museum
Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped, an exhibit of works by the Californian sculptor; thru Jan 19. Other exhibits, too. Free/$16. Thu-Tue. 736 Mission St. https://thecjm.org/

The Christmas Ballet @ YBCA
Smuin Contemporary Ballet's annual touring production of the updated take on holiday ballets. $25-$97. Dec 12-23. 7:30pm & 2pm thru Dec. 23. 700 Howard St. www.smuinballet.org

Golden Gate Men's Chorus @ St. Matthew's Lutheran
Hallelujah, a holiday vocal concert. $10-$40. 8pm. Dec 14 3pm, 15 3pm & 7pm, and 17 8pm. 3281 16th St. www.ggmc.org

No Regrets: A Celebration of Marlon Riggs @ BAM/PFA
Screenings of films by the late African American gay artist and UC Berkeley professor, including Tongues Untied and Black Is...Black Ain't. Thru Nov 25. Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2155 Center St., Berkeley. https://bampfa.org

She & Him @ The Fox Oakland
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward's pop band performs; Alice Wetterlund opens. $50-$90. 8pm. 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. www.sheandhim.com www.thefoxoakland.com

Still Beginning: Thirty Years of Day With(out) Art @ GLBT History Museum
Screening of seven films commissioned by Visual AIDS and a celebration of the annual event's 30 years. $5. 7pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Los Straitjackets @ Ivy Room
The cool instrumental surf rock band performs. $20. 8pm. 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. www.ivyroom.com

Various Exhibits @ Treasure Island Museum
Collections of historic Golden Gate Exposition photos and memorabilia, military ephemera and more. Building One, Treasure Island, One Avenue of the Palms. www.treasureislandmuseum.org

Who's Your Mami Comedy @ Brava
Zahra Noorbakhsh headlines the popular new comedy night, with Wonder Dave, Amy Estes, Becky Lynn, Geneva Rust-Orta $10-$15. 8pm. 2773 24th St. www.brava.org