Always a delight for San Franciscans, Litquake, the West Coast's largest independent literary festival, returns to the Bay Area, and celebrates a quarter century of programs, including a wealth of queer events, authors, and icons that are not to be missed. Here are our selections, with plenty more in the full schedule at venues around the Bay Area October 10-27.
Booksellers Ball @ Club Fugazi
Kicking off the festival in style, Litquake beckons audiences to a night of revelry and literary-themed drag performances. Joe Waldington of Happy Endings, aka Jubilee! will host Litquake's Silver Jubilee. Promising "abundant libations and a sizzling lineup of literature," the event will feature music presented by Bff.fm's DJ Lead Teddy and a reading nook curated by San Francisco's most revered independent booksellers. Oct. 10, 7pm-10pm, $75/$100 to sponsor a bookseller, 685 Green St.
Foglifter Issue Launch Party @ Strut
Join queer literary journal and publishing house Foglifter in the launch of the Fall 2024 issue of their biannual journal. Created by and for LGBTQ+ writers and readers, the organization elevates historically silenced voices to the forefront. Readings and appearances by Starlight Shamsi, Amalee Beattie, sienna fereshteh, Eden Nobile, and Grayson Thompson. Limited copies of the journal are for purchase. Oct. 11, 7pm-8:30pm, Free, $10-$15 suggested donation, 470 Castro St.
Irregular Feedback: Writers on Music @ Make-Out Room
Inspired by the work of writer Hanif Abdurraqib, Irregular Feedback offers an opportunity to hear writers speak about music. Featuring Hieu Minh Nguyen, Phoebe Cakes, Safia Elhillo, José Vadi, and Anna Held, deep-dive into great albums, genres, and musical artists of the past six decades. Oct.12, 7:30pm-9pm, $12-$15, 3210 22nd St.
Modern Magic with Michelle Tea @ The Lost Church
Celebrated and award-winning queer activist and author Michelle Tea weaves elements of memoir, fiction, and poetry, crafting work that is distinctly San Franciscan. Joined in conversation by Diana Helmuth and abridged with an interactive intermission, this night is full of "stories and spells." MK Chaves moderates the conversation, while Julia Halina Hadas brews witchy cocktails. Oct. 13, 8:15pm-10pm, $18, 947 Columbus Avenue.
Queering Myths: Caro De Robertis and Navid Sinaki @ City Lights
Welcome two accomplished novelists, Navid Sinaki and Caro De Robertis, and their latest novels. Sinaki's debut novel, "Medusa of the Roses" navigates a queer couple's journey amidst the repressive political landscape of modern-day Iran. In contrast, De Roberti's "The Palace of Eros" explores the dangers posed not by the government but by the Gods themselves. The night's discussion centers around "the queer love story as a vehicle for interrogating society" and will be moderated by Jasmin Darznik. Oct. 15, 7:30pm-9pm, Free, $10-$15 suggested donation, 261 Columbus Ave.
Read for Filth: Queer Erotica @ Fabulosa Books
A celebration of queer erotica, this event will have readings of queer literature, drag performances, and cocktails to boot! The talent includes comedian Baruch Porras-Hernandez, DJ Lead Teddy, Polly Amber Ross, and other drag superstars. Oct. 17, 6:30pm-10:30pm, Free, $20-$40 suggested donation, 489 Castro St.
The Rise of the Book Ban & the Freedom to Read @ KQED
The afternoon's discussion draws on the U.S. and its exponential rise in banned books, especially when it comes to trans identities. The day starts with a block party and open house at KQED Headquarters. Speak with San Francisco's City Librarian Michael Lambert, Becka Robbins, and authors Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Maia Kobabe (author of "Genderqueer," the top-targeted book for bans in the U.S.). Proceeds go to Books Not Bans. Oct. 19, 4pm-4:45pm, Free, 2601 Mariposa St.
Out Loud: A Celebration of Queer Poetics @ Yerba Buena Gardens
Bringing together an array of poets from the Bay Area literary scene, get ready for a queer BIPOCX group who define themselves as "the queer at the tip of your tongue." Oct. 20, 12pm-1:15pm, Free, $10-$15 suggested donation, 750 Howard St.
Swole: The Meaning of Muscle Panel & Party @ The Stud
If you haven't already celebrated the revitalization of The Stud, do it with an evening of literature and "Swole-themed" drag with a night of performance and dance. Writer and cultural critic Michael Brodeur joins personal trainers from Bay Strength to discuss his new book "Swole: The Making of Men and the Meaning of Muscle," with a drag show curated by a Bay Area favorite, Hands. Oct. 21, 7pm-10:30pm, $17-$20, 1123 Folsom St.
Literary Speakeasy Presents: Dragging Celebrity Autobiographies @ Oasis
Equipped with "reading glasses" an outstanding cast of drag superstars parody the most hilarious celebrity memoirs and autobiographies, with no one off limits. Hosts James J. Siegel and Elsa Touché present an evening of theatrical flair plus prizes! Oct. 22, 7pm-9pm, $25 general/$30 premium runway seating, 298 11th St.
Greetings, from Queer Mountain: Maybe Today, Satan @ Gilman Brewing Company
Embrace the chaos of life with the long-running national LGBTQ+ storytelling showcase, Greetings, from Queer Mountain. Host and curator Michael Foulk (Queer Film Theory 101) invites beloved writers on stage to read work about facing our shadow selves. Oct. 23, 7pm-9pm, $12-$15, 912 Gilman St., Berkeley.
Bay Area Reporter Presents: What We Wrote During the Blip @ Martuni's
Our very own Arts Editor and award-winning author Jim Provenzano presents an exceptional lineup of writers —Yume Kim, Horehound Stillpoint, Gaia Veenis, and André Le Mont Wilson — who will share works written during the pandemic, alongside stories that imagine the "potential collapse of democracy." Grab a drink and savor this absolute must-see stop on Lit Crawl, the annual closing night packed with readings at venues along Valencia Street at one-hour intervals (5pm, 6pm, 7pm). Oct. 26, 5pm-6pm, Free, 4 Valencia St.
Lifeform: Jenny Slate @ Palace of Fine Arts
Time spent with award-winning actor, comedian, author, and queer icon Jenny Slate is never time wasted. Hear Slate read from her new book of essays, "Lifeform," and get to know her with a moderated conversation and audience Q&A; a perfect last note to a month filled with literary and queer happenings that promise to inspire writers and captivate the LGBTQ+ community. Tickets include a signed copy of "Lifeform." Oct. 27, 7:30pm-9pm, $82-$92, 3601 Lyon St.
www.litquake.org
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