Bingo! Your Thanksgiving drama is universally relatable
When the turkey’s burned and the wine flows freely, this game rewards you for enduring the holiday’s most predictable disasters.
Ah, Thanksgiving. It’s that time of year to gather with relatives you never talk to, navigate the minefield of questionable side dishes and even more questionable political opinions. It’s supposed to be a celebration of gratitude, but it’s really an endurance test of small talk and figuring out if the gravy is edible this year.
Do I sound bitter? Because I know it’s not like this for everyone. Many of us in San Francisco fled the awkwardness of suburban small-minded life and now have glorious chosen families. Sure your crazy friend still hits the bottle way too hard, but at least their political complaints are ones that resonate.
I personally will trek back to the land of Applebee’s and homogenized whiteness — and sit at a table with relatives who voted for Trump. So I’ll mostly try to not burn the house down. This is one of those events I used to love arriving in big ball gowns and hot pink pantsuits just to scare the neighborhood bigots, but nowadays I’m just too tired to make the effort. Instead I came up with this bingo card with many joyous traditions I’ve celebrated most my life. Any of these apply to you?
Whether you’re there for the food, the family, or just the free wine, Thanksgiving is a universal parade of chaos that’s oddly comforting in its predictability. It’s a day that reminds us we’re all a little messy, a little loud, and very much human. I wish you the best with yours.
From bar crawls to bare bums — these are San Francisco’s not-so-traditional holidays
San Francisco doesn’t “do” the holidays like your Hallmark card suggests. Forget the chestnuts roasting on an open fire — in SF it’s more like Santas shotgunning beers in Union Square and Victorian carolers gossiping about Dickensian scandal. Here’s your guide to flipping the holidays upside down in SF — no ugly sweater required (but hey, it helps).
Read the latest by Saul Sugarman. He’s writing much of our content this week and next, while The Bold Italic freelancers take a much-needed holiday break.
What we’re doing this week
Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Ceremony
The annual Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Ceremony honors Native American resilience and heritage. Join participants on Alcatraz Island at dawn for a moving, reflective ceremony that challenges the traditional Thanksgiving narrative. It’s a solemn, powerful alternative to holiday excess and a chance to reconnect with history and community.
WHEN: November 28, 2024
WHERE: Alcatraz Island
A.C.T.'s "A Whynot Christmas Carol"
The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) presents a fresh take on Charles Dickens's classic with A Whynot Christmas Carol. This joyous and humorous adaptation follows a small theater troupe in the town of Whynot as they endeavor to stage their director's new version of the timeless tale.
WHEN: November 26–December 24, 2024
WHERE: Toni Rembe Theater, 415 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA
Booty Call Wednesday returns at Q Bar — for one Wednesday, at least
Booty Call Wednesdays, led by drag queen Juanita MORE! and featuring Cabure’s iconic photo booths, is back to electrify the Castro. Now that Q Bar has reopened, this midweek party is ready to reignite the magic with music, dancing, and unforgettable vibes.
It looks very much like this will be a one-off and not necessarily Wednesdays going forward — as it once was. But this was the place to be midweek for many Castro Bunnies in the 2010s. In town for Thanksgiving? It’s a good escape.
WHEN: November 27th, 9 PM
WHERE: Q Bar, 456 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA
More details on its Facebook event:
Also coming up: San Francisco Ballet's "The Nutcracker"
Experience the magic of the holiday season with the San Francisco Ballet's rendition of The Nutcracker. This cherished production, celebrating its 20th anniversary under Helgi Tomasson's direction, transports audiences to a fantastical world where snowflakes dance and the Sugarplum Fairy reigns.
WHEN: December 6–29, 2024
WHERE: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA
What’s on our mind
We keep content mostly fun and light at The Bold Italic, but the future of the Bay Area interests us, too. Here’s what we are thinking about in local news. Brought to you by GrowSF.
SF reports its lowest monthly overdose deaths in years
In some good news, the city just recorded its lowest monthly overdose deaths in four years, down 25 percent so far in 2024 compared to last year.
Among the possible reasons for the recent decline could be better access to drugs that treat overdoses like Narcan, and a 21% increase in residential treatment admissions. Given that this downward trend is happening across the country, there may be something larger at play.
While the numbers are promising, the work is far from done. With overdoses still a leading cause of preventable death, San Francisco must sustain its efforts to ensure this progress continues—and doesn’t backslide.
GrowSF Election Victory Party
Join us for the GrowSF Election Victory Party at ANINA. We're having a celebration to honor all the hard work that went into this election season.
We're thrilled to announce that Supervisors-elect Bilal Mahmood and Danny Sauter will be joining us, and who knows, maybe a few other surprise guests will pop in too! See you there!
WHEN: Tuesday, December 17 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
WHERE: ANINA, 482 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Donate to The Bold Italic today
The Bold Italic publishes first-person stories on topics that are on the brains and lips of San Franciscans. We’re a hub for conversations to be heard and discussed, and we celebrate all that’s great about living in San Francisco and the Bay Area. We hope our continuing conversation will get you thinking, talking, and inspiring you to share your opinions with us on living in San Francisco.
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The Bold Italic is brought to you by GrowSF and edited by Saul Sugarman. Send us a pitch, a question, comment, or advertise with us: info@thebolditalic.com