Calendars are so back, if you ask Mayor Daniel Lurie. On Friday, his office announced the launch of a new, city-run site from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development called SF Live, which features event listings for music, theater, comedy, family-friendly activities and more.
SF Live’s calendar is powered by Vibemap, a service that uses AI to automate listings, pulled automatically from pre-approved venue websites. Each month, however, a different group of cultural heavy-hitters will step in to augment the calendar with curator picks.
First up as guest curators are veteran music journalist Ben Fong-Torres, rapper-producer P-Lo and Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. winner Melissa King; their November picks include a PinkPantheress concert at the Masonic on Nov. 12 and Kamasi Washington’s performance at Golden Gate Theatre on Nov. 15. Future curators include bestselling author Dave Eggers, drag artist and Oasis club owner D’Arcy Drollinger and singer and multi-instrumentalist La Doña.
In a press release, the mayor’s office touted Lurie’s commitment to the arts, and emphasized culture’s importance to San Francisco’s economy. Event-goers typically spend $46.54 beyond the cost of a ticket at small businesses, according to city data. San Francisco’s arts sector is a major employer, with 3,380 organizations providing more than 60,000 jobs.
“The arts are leading San Francisco’s comeback — driving cultural activations and economic growth across our neighborhoods,” Lurie said in a statement. “SF Live will support San Francisco’s arts organizations and drive ticket sales for live arts, music, theater, and dance.”
