God damn look at this sky

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I know it’s hip to be all, “Ugh, pictures of sunsets,” but I mean look at this.

[via Mish]

Dolores Park’s south side was supposed to reopen tomorrow but now it’s not

But, look, it’s all done, and as soon as the wet weather subsides, it’ll open back up:

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[via Hoodline]

Ryan Coogler/Michael B. Jordan spotlight at the Roxie featuring ‘Fruitvale Station’ and ‘Creed’

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Here’s local comedian and film buff W. Kamau Bell:

I love Rocky movies as much as I love Black cinema—and surprise!, Rocky is now officially a part of Black Cinema. Who could’ve imagined that Coogler would follow up his debut film, Fruitvale Station—the best film about racism in 2013; sorry, not sorry, 12 Years A Slave—with a Rocky sequel? It’s kind of like if Spike Lee had followed up his debut film, She’s Gotta Have It, by directing a James Bond film, but with Denzel Washington playing James Bond.

Both films play all weekend, with Creed continuing into next week as well.

Get tickets and more info here and here.

Luxury vs. misery (and also nuts)

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[via Shannon]

Mission geyser

16th & Bryant. Good thing we're not in a drought or nothin

A video posted by emma (@emmaruthless) on

Drama Talk & Drinks: Star Trek Live – Mudd’s Women “I just wanted to stare at her”

Little known Drama Talk & Drinks fact: Katie’s great uncle, James Doohan, played Scotty on the OG Star Trek. So when we got notice that there was a drag-king version of one of the original Star Trek episodes, “Mudd’s Women”, which was happening at Oasis, we knew we had to check it out. 

Amber Sommerfeld as Spock, Leigh Crow as Captain Kirk, and Honey Mahogany as Uhura

Amber Sommerfeld as Spock, Leigh Crow as Captain Kirk, and Honey Mahogany as Uhura

Brittany: That was fun! The woman who played captain Kirk, Leigh Crow, was amazing!

Katie: Yes, she totally nailed a spoof of captain Kirk, she got the campy-ness.

B: Also Spock (Amber Sommerfeld) rocked, and Honey Mahogany is beautiful. I just wanted to stare at her.

K: So true! I think they created an entertaining world. They had fun lighting, and sound effects, the set was cool and the costumes were on-point. Even though they were parodying the show, they did it in professional way that honored what they were making fun of.

B: You can tell that the people who really rocked their characters are totally Trekkies, that’s the only way they could have nailed those roles. The “Stump the Captain” Star Trek trivia game at intermission was not only fun, but showed a true level of devotion to the series. Unless those questions were planted, which I don’t think they were, there’s no way she could know all that trivia without being a fan.

K: Also the Beam Me Up Scotchy was delicious. No problem with meeting the two drink minimum with that, and I don’t even like scotch usually.

B: Overall a fun night of beautiful drag queens, talented drag kings, strong drinks, and lots of Star Trek nerds. What more could you want?

The Verdict: Go see it, it’s a good time. If you like Star Trek, and think campy drag shows are fun, you’ll really enjoy this.

The Drama Talk: Shows at Oasis hold themselves to a high standard for production values and talent, while still not taking themselves so seriously that it loses the fun. This show is a drag-king version of a particularly camping Star Trek episode, so don’t expect any deep earth shattering revelations. But if you’re a Star Trek fan looking for a fun way to spend a chilly rainy night, this is a great option. This is technically the show’s second time around – it opened in September and sold-out that run – this is the encore so tickets may go fast.

The Drinks: Oasis has a great bar, and friendly bar tenders. On the night we went you could stay after the show to drink, and get to see the late-night male-revue after, so if you go on a weekday you may also get so lucky. They had a special menu of Star Trek inspired drinks and the Beam Me Up Scotchy was the clear winner of the bunch.

Star Trek Live!: Mudd’s Women; A Drag Send Up Of The Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Series, runs through January 23rd at Oasis. Tickets on the Oasis website are $25 for general admission, $35 for premium seating, or $225 if you want the The Vulcan Champagne Table which is a front row table for four people with a bottle of Chandon. Right now there are also tickets available on Goldstar for $12.50-$35.

David Bowie music video singalong Thursday night at the new Alamo Drafthouse

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The party starts at 10:55pm, here’s the deal:

The shocking and sad news that David Bowie has passed left us all with a pit in our stomach, a hole in our hearts, and a tune in our heads, be it “Heroes,” “Young Americans,” “Suffragette City,” “Under Pressure,” or “Little Fat Man.” It just doesn’t seem possible that we now live in a world without David Bowie, but we know he’s ascended to the otherworldly status of an icon, whose music and art will be loved, studied and rocked out to for generations. Let’s start doing that tonight with our David Bowie Music Video Party, where you’ll be able to laugh, cry and sing your heart out. We’re putting this sing-along together entirely from scratch, so there’ll be very few subtitles but hell, you know the words, right? Wham bam, thank you ma’am!

Tickets and more info here.

All the songs I sang at karaoke in Tokyo on my birthday last week

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From time to time I like to share lists of songs I’ve sung at karaoke over a given period, mostly to express to the uninitiated how possible it is to go to karaoke and sing lots of your favorite songs — weird stuff too, not just big hits.

Once you know that, you can start going to karaoke all the time and reveling in its transformative powers, come out of your shell, become a better person, etc.

Here’s everything I sang in a little bar in Tokyo’s Golden Gai district at my birthday party last week:

  1. Rebel Yell – Billy Idol
  2. Touch Me - The Doors
  3. Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground
  4. Darlin’ - The Beach Boys
  5. Maybelline - Chuck Berry
  6. I’m Not Like Everybody Else - The Kinks
  7. Out of Time - The Rolling Stones
  8. Material Girl - Madonna
  9. Every 1’s A Winner - Hot Chocolate
  10. Young Americans - David Bowie
  11. Reflektor - Arcade Fire
  12. Don’t Think Twice - Bob Dylan
  13. Working for the Weekend - Loverboy
  14. The Boys Are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy
  15. Pink Triangle - Weezer
  16. Minority - Green Day
  17. Red Hot Moon - Rancid
  18. New York City Cops - The Strokes
  19. Perfect Day - Lou Reed
  20. Rocky Raccoon - The Beatles
  21. Alison - Elvis Costello
  22. Burning Love - Elvis Presley
  23. Daria - Cake
  24. Work to Do - The Isley Brothers
  25. Debaser - Pixies
  26. Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

It was the first time I ever sang a Bowie song. I’d always been too hesitant because it seemed like messing up a Bowie song would be too much of a bummer, but when I saw “Young Americans” in the songbook and I was with a bunch of young Americans and had had a lot to drink, it seemed like a good idea.

If you want to sing some karaoke soon, I might recommend doing it at Pop’s this Friday with Roger Niner (who has an incredibly extensive songbook) or at Singin’ & Pingin’ at Rickshaw Stop on the 23rd with DJ Purple (who puts on a very special “Dance Karaoke” party).

It’s all Bowie all day at St. Francis Fountain

Here’s an approximation of what it’s like in case you can’t make it before closing time:

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Hop on Pop’s (home of Roger Niner karaoke this Friday night)!

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[Editor's note: Woohoo! Karaoke returns to 24th Street once again! And Roger Niner has TONS of Bowie fyi.]

Time to GO EPIC or GO HOME with ROGER NINER KAROAKE this Friday at Pops Bar! “I’ll open your mind, shake your ass, shuffle your shizzle, cast you off, reel you in, rent out your heart to a loving couple, make tea in your soul, rake your leaves, find you a puppy, melt your brain, solve your puzzles, get you off The Island, take your temperature, sooth your aching nerves, reach your stars, bend your perception of space/time, AND give you back $0.97 in change, all in the name of Rock and Roll BAY AREA KARAOKE!” – Roger Niner

Check out this week’s entertainment line up at Pops Bar:

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