Bring Your Own Big Wheel 2024: The best race in San Francisco
The San Francisco tradition that probably rolled right under your radar.
While Lombard street gets all the credit, the actual twistiest street in San Francisco — Vermont Street at 20th — slumbers all year until spring, when hordes descend upon it straddling tiny, plastic trikes while my friend, dressed as Princess Leia with miniature tires instead of buns in her hair, yells through a megaphone: “Are you ready to roll?” This is Bring Your Own Big Wheel.
Read the latest by Jenneviere Villegas
20 years in, ‘Bootie’ is still mixing tracks for ‘girls, gays, and theys’
“Bootie” initially began in 2003 as a monthly Wednesday event at Cherry Bar: “A punk rock bike messenger bar turned failing lesbian club,” said Adriana Roberts, the party’s co-founder. With the advent of cheap audio software and MP3 blogs, mashups were just starting to bubble up on the internet, and she loved the DIY genre-clash of the tracks being created. Now, it’s turning 20.
Read the latest by Allyson Darling
New ‘Blue Room’ mixes timeless cocktails with live music in Lower Nob Hill
When Tim Stookey, his wife Leslie Cole and her cousin Aaron Cole opened Stookey’s Club Moderne in Lower Nob Hill in 2015, it stepped right out of a 1930s film. Their devoted passion for the era translated to an intimate bar of glossy blues and whites that feels like time traveling. Enter their brand new neighboring live music bar, The Blue Room, which debuted earlier this year.
Read the latest by Virginia Miller
Photos from Hunky Jesus 2024
We experienced a lot of divisive reaction from this year’s Hunky Jesus, the annual festivities that feature many participants as irreverent, scantily-clad versions of our Easter savior. As a party that’s meant to be a lighthearted parody and a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, it’s often criticized as disrespectful and trivializing of religion.
The Bold Italic has published so many fun features this past year that prove to us San Francisco is — in many ways — alive and well despite also dealing with our very noticeable struggles. The Easter holiday hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is another one of those beautifully joyous occasions, but it’s more than that; “Hunky Jesus” is not just a contest, but a statement — an assertion of individuality and a celebration of freedom of expression. And what’s more San Francisco than that?
Read the latest by Saul Sugarman
What we’re doing this week
Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown
Since 1968, the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival has played a crucial role in fostering the enduring bond between Japan and the United States through cultural exchange. Drawing over 220,000 attendees annually, the festival captivates visitors with its vibrant displays, showcasing the rich colors and elegance of Japanese culture, and highlighting the diverse Japanese American community in San Francisco’s Japantown.
WHEN: April 13–21, with the parade at 1 p.m. on the 21st
WHERE: 1610 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA
Happy Endings Show at Make-Out Room
The Make-Out Room sets the stage for a night of heartfelt narratives and uproarious laughter with the Happy Endings Show. This event invites individuals to step into the limelight and share their stories, poetry, or stand-up comedy routines with a lively audience. Whether you're a seasoned performer or a first-time storyteller, this is your chance to connect with others through the power of words and laughter.
The theme that night will be “You were right and I’m sorry.” Long-awaited apologies, sneaking suspicions, personal biases, personal growth, important last words, etc. $10 suggested donation.
WHEN: April 9 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Lord of the Rings live with SF Symphony
A Hobbit and companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth. Hear the Oscar-winning score like never before as the Symphony performs this fantastical adventure live-to-picture.
Can we say? LotR was never our favorite series, but we’re thinking SF Symphony will break our lukewarm feelings of it.
WHEN: April 11-13, 2024
WHERE: 201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
Also coming up: “Show of Hope” gala
This event honors the Community Health Center’s commitment to providing essential healthcare services to underserved communities. We love how queer it is, and ABC7 sponsors the event, so the morning crew that attends is always a hoot. Honorees this year include Dr. Anthony Fauci and Asia SF.
WHEN: April 19, 2024 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hyatt Regency San Francisco, 5 Embarcadero Ctr.
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.
Aaron Peskin is running for Mayor
Supervisor Aaron Peskin today announced that he’s running for Mayor. Pro-growth, public-safety, and good-government advocates are already pointing out Peskin’s flaws to Han Li and Josh Koehn at The Standard. It’s reported that Peskin saw a path to victory with so many moderate candidates potentially splintering the vote. But the Mayor’s race is ranked choice, meaning voters get to (and should!) vote for every candidate they like (or would tolerate) as Mayor.
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.
You can help us celebrate our home by making a tax-deductible donation through our Flipcause page. We can also take stock, and Donor Advised Fund donations. We are partnered with Independent Arts & Media, a 501(c)(3).
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