One of the "holier" days in the LGBT calendar, Halloween in San Francisco can always be counted upon to offer up fun, spooky events and parties. Here are some more unusual events, along with a few classics.
Hocus pocus abounds at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. In conjunction with Houdini: Art and Magic, its tribute to the late, great illusionist, the CJM invites you to attend a special performance: Joshua Jay: A History of Fatal Conjuring. Jay, an award winning magician, author and headliner at L.A.'s Magic Castle, dramatically recounts some of the strangest deaths that have befallen magicians, assistants, and even audience members throughout history. Houdini: Art and Magic is well worth checking out. $30. Thursday, October 27, 7pm-8:30pm. Exhibit October 2-Jan 16, 2012. 736 Mission. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org
There's lots of fun, scary stuff happening at California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. If you're a fan of the movie Jaws (and if you like beer) check out the Academy's Sharktober Fest NightLife on Thursday, October 6. Things get really creepy at the Academy's Zombie Nightlife on Thursday October 27. Take a crash course in zombie neuroscience with Zombie Research Society founder Brad Voytek. Learn how zombie life symptoms might manifest in real life. Then, join Peaches Christ and her Zombie Drag Show and Costume Contest. Undead attire is encouraged. Or dance the night away at Miss Misery's Zombie Prom. Make-up artists will be on hand for those who wish to channel their inner zombie. Real brain specimens will be on display. $12 ($10 for Academy members). 55 Music Concourse Drive. 379-5128. www.calacademy.org
The Season of All Hallow's Eve is always a good time to catch a couple of good, old fashioned scary movies. On Saturday, October 15, impresario Marc Huestis presents the classic 1956 chiller The Bad Seed at the Castro Theatre. The main event begins at 7:30pm, which will include live performances from Arturo Galster, Mathew Martin and Ste Fishell. You can also revel in the first ever Miss Bad Seed contest, judged by Bay Area resident Kathy Garver (Cissy from TV's Family Affair). Other guests include Oscar winner Patty Duke and Bad Seed star Patty McCormack, who participates in a live Q&A. $22-$30. 429 Castro. 863-0611. www.ticketfly.com/event/60473/
Fans of a certain musical might enjoy The Phantom of the Opera: Halloween Concert with Cameron Carpenter. This happens at Davies Symphony Hall on Sunday October 30 at 8pm. It's the original 1925 silent chiller with Lon Chaney, whose unmasking scene had nurses in attendance at all screenings, as Prohibition-era audiences fainted in the aisles! Sexy organist Carpenter has been described by the The Advocate as "an ambitious radical who plays with unrelenting vigor, scope, and imagination." $20-$60. 201 Van Ness Ave. 864-6000. www.sfsymphony.org
Many may prefer some old-fashioned partying, complete with dancing, booze and debauchery. October certainly offers plenty to choose from. Halloween comes a week early to the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition. The sinfully sensual Masquerotica offers nine exotic playgrounds of X-quisite indulgence, On October 22, 8pm-4am. This is going to be quite a show and quite a party: music by several wild bands, including Burning Man-styled The Mutaytor, dancing, burlesque, sexy exhibits, voyeurism, kinky sex toys, private photo session booths, a pasties fashion show, a naughty games arcade... it just goes on and on. Porn auteur Chi Chi LaRue will be there with her Little Monsters. Porn legend Annie Sprinkle and sex positive talk show host Monika Thomas, among many others, will also be on hand. Of course, all that debauchery may make you hungry: stuff yourself in the Hot Stuff Food Court. $45 general, $100 VIP. 635 8th St. 243-0802. www.masquerotica.com
Help celebrate our colorful history at Unmasked: GLBT Historical Society 2011 Gala. Bring your top hat, white tie and tails, or your gown, over to the Green Room of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center and enjoy entertainment, passed food and a hosted bar. A silent auction will offer queer historic photos and memorabilia, travel, wines, fine dining packages, and more. Thursday, October 27. $60 (7pm-9pm)-$100 (VIP) 6pm-9pm. 401 Van Ness. 777-5455. www.unmaskedgala.org
The Dolores Park Cafe offers the wild Acoustic Apocalypse: Transexual Zombies with Acoustic Guitars. The end of days never sounded so pretty, so come dressed for distress. Best Zombies win brains and other tasty treats! $5-$8. On Friday October 28 from 7-10pm. 501 Dolores. 621-2936. www.doloresparkcafe.org
That same night also offers Masquerade, another hot party from Bibi SF, promoters of events for LGBT people from the Middle East. Celebrate spooky and devilish naughtiness at Club Shine, where DJ Raffy will be at the hip shakin' helm. Beautiful, bedazzling Mona G. Hawd will be performing one of her sultry numbers. There will be prizes for best costumes, and you can enjoy Arak and other drink specialties. $10. October 29. 9pm. 1337 Mission. www.bibisf.org
If your dogs aren't howling after all that dancing, you can dance some more with Go Boo!, also on Saturday October 29. It's Atomic Dance Floor Disco Action at Deco Lounge, with set by DJs Glenn Rivera, Mattski, Emils, and residents Sergio, and Steve Fabus. The fun starts at 9pm and promises to run late, so you can easily moonwalk on over after the Bibi party. It's only $5, but free before 10pm. 510 Larkin. 346-2025. www.gobangsf.com www.decosf.com
October 29 is definitely shaping up at the Night of 1000 parties. Bootie SF's weekly Mash-Up celebrates Halloween Booootie at Mezzanine. Full details are not yet available, but you can keep your eyes peeled on www.bootiemashup.com/sf/
The legendary, incomparable Trannyshack can be counted upon to offer up an unforgettable Halloween event at DNA Lounge, and yup, it happens on Saturday, Oct 29. Heklina, guest co-host Peaches Christ and company promise another great night of low-brow trash and high-brow performance art. The fun starts at 11pm. www.trannyshack.com
The following night, DNA Lounge offers All Hallow's Eve, starting at 9pm and continues into the After Hours. For a mere $13 you can dance to the goth music that builds to a giant, haunted crescendo. There's a costume contest at midnight, and there will be prizes. 375 11th Street. 626-1049. www.dnalounge.com
And finally, if an old-fashioned spook show is to your liking, check out the delightful San Francisco Vampire Tour. Every Friday and Saturday at 8pm, meet the delightful Mina Harker (Dracula's Bride) at Huntington Park on Nob Hill, right across from Grace Cathedral. Dressed in her elegant, 19th century best, Mina takes you on a historical tour of the neighborhood, sharing the area's rich history, including some very dark undead secrets, some of which might actually be true. After a ten year run, Mina has announced that she's ending her tours on December 31, so this is your final chance to spend Halloween with one of Count Dracula's actual victims, herself now one of the undead. $20 for mere mortals, $15 for seniors, students, and groups of ten or more. (650) 279-1840. www.sfvampiretour.com