KQED Arts & Culture

Was ‘Be More Social’ Your 2026 Goal? Expert Advice for Hosting at Your Home | KQED Americans need to party more — and these Bay Area hosts are here to help with some tips for your next gathering. (May we suggest an Oscars party on Sunday?)

Americans need to party more — and these Bay Area hosts are here to help with some tips for your next gathering. (May we suggest an Oscars party on Sunday?)

Punk Legend Jello Biafra Hospitalized After Stroke | KQED The former Dead Kennedys frontman told fans he’s stable but has a “lotta rehabbing to do.”

San Francisco punk legend and former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra has been hospitalized following a hemorrhagic stroke caused by high blood pressure, according to a statement posted on his Facebook page.

10 New Books in March That Offer Mental Vacations March is always a big one for books. Here are some of the best new titles this month.

If you happen to be in need of an escape — from the lingering grip of winter, say, or you know, [gestures expansively] all of this — it’s important to recall there are productive alternatives to doomscrolling. March offers these 10 new books:

Alysa Liu Has Also Inspired Fans Off the Ice — in the Hair Salon Liu’s ‘raccoon’ hairstyle is inspiring copycat hairdos all over the world.

Alysa Liu’s ‘raccoon’ hairstyle is inspiring copycat hairdos all over the world.

‘Country’ Joe McDonald, Songwriter and Proud Counterculture Agitator, Dies at 84 | KQED With his “Gimme an F” cheer and ““I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag,” the Berkeley folksinger was a gleeful agitator.

“Country” Joe McDonald, a hippie rock star of the 1960s whose “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” was a four-lettered rebuke to the Vietnam War that became an anthem for protesters and a highlight of the Woodstock music festival, died Sunday. He was 84.

‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins’ Falls First — But Then it Soars Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe’s new show is full of exquisite, perfectly-timed jokes.

Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe’s new show is full of exquisite, perfectly-timed jokes.

The Best Free Walking Tours Around the Bay Area | KQED If you’re looking for free things to do in the Bay Area, here are the no-ticket-needed walking tours that are definitely worth your time.

If you’re looking for free things to do in the Bay Area, here are the no-ticket-needed walking tours that are definitely worth your time.

In Oakland, This Nigerian Spot Serves Amazing Late-Night Oxtails and Jollof Rice | KQED The back patio at 9jaGrills is a vibe unto itself.

9jaGrills, a newish Nigerian spot near Oakland’s Jack London waterfront, is the spot in Oakland for Nigerian-style oxtails and jollof rice — and maybe the only spot where you can reliably score those dishes until midnight on the weekend.

Music Creates Connections for Bay Area Residents and Families Confronting Memory Loss | KQED At a San Francisco singing circle, people experiencing cognitive decline and their caregivers join together to lift their spirits and improve their lives.

At a San Francisco singing circle, people experiencing cognitive decline and their caregivers join together to lift their spirits and improve their lives.

Fans Fest 2026 Celebrates Oakland Sports of All Sorts | KQED Despite losing three pro sports teams in the past decade, a love for local teams is alive and well in Oakland.

Despite losing three pro sports teams in the past decade, a love for local teams is alive and well in Oakland. Fans Fest 2026 takes place Sunday, March 8 at Fruitvale Village.

Alysa Liu’s Homecoming Party in Oakland: What to Know | KQED The Olympic gold medalist will be honored in downtown Oakland — here's how to reserve a spot.

The City of Oakland has announced its hotly anticipated homecoming party for Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu. The celebration gets underway at noon on Thursday, March 12, at Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland. Details:

Bay Area Musicians Unite on a New Album for Palestinian Aid | KQED ‘Artists Against Apartheid’ features jazz and hip-hop heavy hitters, and raises money for medical care for children.

Artists from the Bay Area’s jazz, rock, folk and hip-hop scenes collaborated on putting together the protest album, ‘Artists Against Apartheid,’ to raise money for humanitarian aid and grassroots organizing.

She’s Restoring Native American Jazz History — and Creating Her Own Julia Keefe’s band set out to honor lesser-known Indigenous jazz musicians. It turned into so much more.

The Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band sees the vocalist and her far-flung cast of young Indigenous collaborators blaze a new chapter in jazz history. The band performs on Friday, March 6, at Zellerbach Playhouse in Berkeley.

A Glimpse of Iran Through the Eyes of its Artists and Journalists Understanding one of the world's oldest civilizations can't be achieved through a single film or book.

Understanding one of the world's oldest civilizations can't be achieved through a single film or book. But recent works of literature, journalism, music and film by Iranians are a powerful starting point.

The Grand Lake Theatre, My Hometown Movie Palace, Is Turning 100 I've seen movies at the Grand Lake Theatre since 1991, and it truly is the people’s story palace.

Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre, the movie palace just northeast of Lake Merritt, celebrates its 100th birthday this week. "While it’s a century-old building made for showing films, it’s the people who make the stories there," KQED's Pendarvis Harshaw writes.

Chinatown Street to Be Renamed for Rescuer of Trafficked Girls Tien Fuh Wu Way will be unveiled on March 6, after a successful campaign by the staff of Cameron House.

A three-block stretch of San Francisco’s Chinatown will be renamed to honor Tien Fuh Wu, who spent half a century rescuing trafficked women and girls and taking care of them at 920 Sacramento St., then known as the Occidental Mission Home.

Suhoor Fest Shows Off the Bay’s Massive Variety of Halal Cuisines — Until 4 a.m. The annual Ramadan celebration brings barbecue, biriyani and Dubai chocolate to an East Bay parking lot.

On Saturday, March 7, from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., Suhoor Fest will return to its roots in the NewPark Mall parking lot in San José, with delicious offerings.

Pixar Returns to Form With Freewheeling Adventure, ‘Hoppers’ The irresistible ensemble includes the voices of Meryl Streep, Dave Franco, Ego Nwodim and Jon Hamm.

The irresistible ensemble includes the voices of Meryl Streep, Dave Franco, Ego Nwodim and Jon Hamm.

New Exhibit Highlights Dilemmas of Japanese American Soldiers in WW2 ‘I Am An American: The Nisei Soldier Experience’ is on view now at the MIS Historic Learning Center.

‘I Am An American: The Nisei Soldier Experience’ charts the journeys of the 120,000 Japanese Americans who were sent to remote, squalid concentration camps during World War II. It is on display through August 2026:

Charli xcx, Rüfüs Du Sol and the Strokes Will Headline Outside Lands 2026 | KQED The festival promises to draw tens of thousands of fans to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Aug. 7–9.

Outside Lands returns to Golden Gate Park Aug. 7–9, with headlining sets from 'Brat' hitmaker Charli xcx, dance music giants Rüfüs Du Sol and indie rock greats the Strokes.

See the full lineup:

Can San Francisco’s Small Clubs Survive? | KQED At SF Music Week, venue operators raised concerns about the health of the live music ecosystem, and implored the city to help.

Aside from their economic impact, independent venues have shaped San Francisco’s culture and global reputation. Yet at SF Music Week, panelist after panelist spoke about how San Francisco’s independent venues are struggling.

Ruby Ibarra Took Center Stage at San Francisco Music Week | KQED The barrier-breaking MC talked about her journey to NPR's Tiny Desk, motherhood and her next era of artistry.

In a new interview, East Bay rapper Ruby Ibarra reflects on winning NPR's Tiny Desk Contest, repping the Bay Area, and juggling motherhood and her blossoming career.

The San Francisco Ballet Cancels Its Trump-Kennedy Center Shows | KQED Initially scheduled to perform at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center, the SF Ballet has reversed course.

Initially slated to perform a modern, AI-inspired rendition of the myth of Pandora titled ‘Mere Mortals,’ the San Francisco Ballet’s board voted to cancel its upcoming shows at Washington D.C.’s Trump-Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The Eccentric Personalities Behind Sunnyside Conservatory, a 120-Year-Old Garden in San Francisco | KQED Built in 1902 to house an eccentric inventor’s rare plant collection, preserving this building in San Francisco has been a neighborhood labor of love.

Built in 1902 to house an eccentric inventor’s rare plant collection, preserving this building in San Francisco has been a neighborhood labor of love.

Boots Riley’s ‘I Love Boosters’ Gets a Hometown Premiere at SFFILM Festival | KQED The Bay Area gets an early look at the Oakland director’s comedy-thriller about a high-fashion heist.

Boots Riley’s new film ‘I Love Boosters’ hits theaters May 22, but the Bay Area gets to see it early — thanks to the 69th annual San Francisco International Film Festival hosting two back-to-back screenings April 28 at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater.

Missing the Cal Falcons? It’s Time to Watch the Stockton Barn Owls The Central Valley’s barn owls are about to start hatching babies. Here’s how to watch.

It’s been a year since the beloved UC Berkeley falcons disappeared from the campus campanile. Since no new falcons have taken their place, it might be time to find a new bird-loving livestream — which is where the Port of Stockton’s Barn Owl Cams come in:

New Doc ‘Man on the Run’ Captures McCartney’s Post-Beatles Era Paul wasn't dead. He was on a remote farm in Scotland, wondering if he’d write “another note, ever.”

Paul McCartney wasn't dead. He was on a remote farm in Scotland, wondering if he’d write “another note, ever.”

A San Francisco Socialite and Mexican Dancer Collide in ‘Dreams’ Jessica Chastain and Isaac Hernández star in this SF-set erotic thriller about power, art and immigration.

Jessica Chastain and Isaac Hernández star in this SF-set erotic thriller about power, art and immigration.

A Lantern Festival Celebration Brings Night Market Vibes to Oakland Chinatown Expect mahjong, a scavenger hunt and plenty of dumplings and noodles.

This weekend's fourth annual Oakland Chinatown Lantern Festival will once again mark the end of this year’s Lunar New Year festivities with mahjong, dumplings, music and dance.

At SF State, Slow Gestures Accumulate Into Acts of Resistance The exhibition ‘slow burn’ features artists who counter a pressure for urgency with thought-provoking works.

As major institutions retreat into inoffensive exhibitions, it behooves the art lover to explore locations too often overlooked. If you seek art that makes you think, ‘slow burn’ at San Francisco State University’s Fine Arts Gallery is just the thing.