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"slug": "best-plays-musicals-bay-area-oakland-san-francisco-berkeley-2026",
"title": "The 11 Best Plays and Musicals to See This Summer in the Bay Area",
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"headTitle": "The 11 Best Plays and Musicals to See This Summer in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2026\">2026 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a year of particular rockiness, Bay Area theatre continues to experience ups and downs. While some companies have closed, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DWAoR6UFB3r/?img_index=1\">3Below in San Jose\u003c/a>, others are reinventing old spaces into new beginnings, like San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.rayoflighttheatre.com/thebarb\">Ray of Light\u003c/a> and their fresh, intimate performance space, the Barbary Stage. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This summer’s theater in our region offers new ideas, but also some nostalgia. Lisa Vroman played Christine Daaé in \u003ci>The Phantom of the Opera\u003c/i> when it ran in San Francisco for more than five years in the 1990s; when the revitalized production returns to the city May 29–June 21, Vroman will take on the role of choreographer Madame Giry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if an angry vocal instructor with bad skin who lives in the damp catacombs of an opera house isn’t your vibe, never fear — here are 11 other fantastic plays and musicals running all over the Bay Area this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989541\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1452\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989541\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3-160x116.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3-768x558.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3-1536x1115.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jean-Michel (Landyn Endo) and Anne (Akhila Narayanan) navigate their very opposite parents on their journey toward impending nuptials in ‘La Cage aux Folles’ at Theatre Rhinoceros in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Scott Sidorsky)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.therhino.org/\">La Cage aux Folles\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Theatre Rhinoceros, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 16–June 7\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jean-Michel’s dad Georges is the master of ceremonies at a Saint-Tropez drag nightclub. Anne’s dad is head of the Tradition, Family and Morality Party that’s trying to close drag clubs. How will these two get along now that their kids are in love? A bevy of lies ensue to try and assuage Anne’s family, yet by the end, everyone needs each other and drag artists win the day. The intimate performance space in the historic Castro District is a perfect spot for this joyous musical, written by dynamic duo Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein. Longtime executive artistic director John Fisher and development director/company manager Crystal Liu share directing duties. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989543\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1601px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1601\" height=\"1281\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989543\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed.png 1601w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed-160x128.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed-768x614.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed-1536x1229.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1601px) 100vw, 1601px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manu Narayan, background and Kuhoo Verma star in the world premiere musical adaptation of the 2013 film ‘The Lunchbox’ at Berkeley Rep, directed by Rachel Chavkin. \u003ccite>(HanJie Chow)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyrep.org/shows/the-lunchbox-nkft\">The Lunchbox\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 17–June 28, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Area audiences can certainly get used to seeing the uber-talented Kuhoo Verma, who’s spent time at both Berkeley Rep and ACT San Francisco in recent years. She completed an Off-Broadway run in \u003ci>Heathers\u003c/i> this past April; she now stars in this newly adapted musical. Based on Ritesh Batra’s popular 2013 film, \u003ci>The Lunchbox\u003c/i> is set in Mumbai, where a young wife and an older widower close to retirement begin a correspondence through a wrong lunch delivery. Notes hold deeper truths, and a romance begins to blossom. Batra serves as co-lyricist with sibling music group The Lazours (\u003ci>We Live in Cairo\u003c/i>), while \u003ci>Hadestown\u003c/i> director Rachel Chavkin handles the directing. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989497\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1054\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989497\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1-1536x809.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lisa Ramirez rehearses as the title character of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ at Oakland Theater Project. The company is producing a new adaptation by Chay Yew. \u003ccite>(Adam Elder Montanaro)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://oaklandtheaterproject.org/\">The House of Bernarda Alba\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oakland Theater Project, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 22–June 7, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca remains one of the most thrilling artists of the 20th century. A sly critic of the brutal General Francisco Franco, Lorca was ultimately killed by firing squad in 1936 at age 38. In a new adaptation of Lorca’s \u003ci>The House of Bernarda Alba\u003c/i> by Chay Yew, Matriarch Bernarda demands that her five daughters mourn the loss of their father for eight years. Yet as time goes on, the sisters begin to self-destruct, mostly driven by a single love interest among multiple sisters, a man the audience never sees. Lisa Ramirez, a terrific actor and co-artistic director of the company, takes on the title role, directed by Michael Socrates Moran. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989544\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989544\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910.jpeg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910-1200x675.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bess Wohl’s ‘Continuity’ at Shotgun Players takes place on a Hollywood set. \u003ccite>(Shotgun Players)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://shotgunplayers.org/show/continuity/\">Continuity\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Ashby Stage, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 23–June 21, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Emilie Whelan directs this fast-paced comedy about life on a Hollywood set. As art imitates life, Maria is on edge as she keeps the production together amidst wild chaos. Egos, secrets and too much truth for comfort inform the story, a classic example of art imitating life. Shotgun Players are coming off a terrific production of another Pulitzer winning playwright, Edward Albee, and his risk-taking play \u003ci>The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?\u003c/i>, continuing a daring streak of staging stories with penetrating questions and complicated answers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989542\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1475\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989542\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons-160x118.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons-768x566.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons-1536x1133.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Billie J. Simmons, left, and Kelly Rinehart take on powerful emotional demands in ‘’night, Mother’ at the Altarena Playhouse in Alameda.\u003cbr> \u003ccite>(Altarena Playhouse)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.altarena.org/2026-season-announcement/night-mother/\">’night, Mother\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Altarena Playhouse, Alameda\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 29–June 28, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Marsha Norman’s story focuses on mother Thelma (Billie J. Simmons) and her daughter Jessie (Kelly Rinehart), who declares she is about to take her own life. Thelma’s battle for Jessie to reconsider becomes a bond, based on old secrets and long-standing harm. The small Altarena Playhouse in Alameda, featuring a three-quarter stage and just north of 100 seats, is an ideal venue for these types of personal stories. Actor, director and podcaster ShawnJ West directs. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989553\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/099.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"914\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989553\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/099.jpeg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/099-160x114.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/099-768x548.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Erin Rose Solorio and Sean Okuniewicz play the roles of Scaramouche and Galileo in the San Jose Stage production of ‘We Will Rock You,’ featuring the hits of rock band Queen. \u003ccite>(Dave Lepori)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.thestage.org/\">We Will Rock You\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>San Jose Stage\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>June 3–28, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s never a bad time to dive into the hits of legendary rock band Queen, which boasted one of rock music’s greatest frontmen, Freddie Mercury. In this jukebox musical, two misfits, Galileo and Scaramouche, join a group of bohemians tasked with finding the buried sacred instruments that will allow them to save rock and roll. Featuring some of Queen’s biggest hits, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” and “Somebody to Love,” the show is an opportunity to rock out to live Queen covers and dance in the aisles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989492\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989492\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Playwright Denmo Ibrahim’s ‘Arab Spring’ premiere is a collaboration between Golden Thread Productions and SFBATCO. \u003ccite>(Clara Rice Photography)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://goldenthread.org/productions/arab-spring/\">Arab Spring\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Potrero Stage, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>June 19–July 12, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Golden Thread Productions and SFBATCO, two of the Bay Area’s most consequential creators of new work, join forces for this promising co-production. In \u003ci>Arab Spring\u003c/i>, two siblings (played by Salim Razawi and Arti Ishak) return to the suburbs to bury their deadbeat dad, and themes of family and religion come to the forefront. Written by Golden Thread resident playwright Denmo Ibrahim and directed by Crowded Fire co-executive director Nailah Unole didanas’ea Harper-Malveaux, the play promises to be explosive and timely. It’s also the first full production under new artistic director Nabra Nelson, who took over from Sahar Assaf in December. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989538\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1009px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Evren-Odcikin.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1009\" height=\"673\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989538\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Evren-Odcikin.jpg 1009w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Evren-Odcikin-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Evren-Odcikin-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1009px) 100vw, 1009px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Evren Odcikin presents his adaptation of ‘As You Like It’ at Marin Shakespeare Company in June and July. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Evren Odcikin)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.marinshakespeare.org/as-you-like-it/\">As You Like It\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Marin Shakespeare Co.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>June 19–July 19, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it’s summer in the Bay Area and one does not go see Shakespeare outdoors, is it really summertime? Transitioning from T-shirt to jacket to blanket throughout a summer night is a rite of passage in these parts, and very few places are better suited for it than Marin. This year, exceptional theater maker Evren Odcikin is premiering his adaptation of \u003ci>As You Like It\u003c/i>, with one of Shakespeare’s most beloved characters, the brilliant light Rosalind. Banished from the court, Rosalind disguises herself as the boy Ganymede and darts to the forest of Arden, where she encounters her love interest Orlando. It’s a classic pastoral comedy of music and romance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989536\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 750px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Geetha-Reddy-Headshot-2026-small.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989536\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Geetha-Reddy-Headshot-2026-small.jpg 750w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Geetha-Reddy-Headshot-2026-small-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area-based playwright and screenwriter Geetha Reddy’s world premiere of ‘The Employee Dharma Handbook’ opens at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in July. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Geetha Reddy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://theatreworks.org/mainstage/the-employee-dharma-handbook/\">The Employee Dharma Handbook\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Mountain View\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>July 8–Aug. 2, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this prominent world premiere, Bay Area playwright Geetha Reddy explores dharma as a concept of morals and responsibilities in the workplace, as HR executive Val wrestles with suspicions of sexism among a group of lead engineers preparing a rocket launch. Reddy’s exploration of identity, culture and nepotism is directed by Snehal Desai, a former artistic director at Los Angeles’ East West Players currently serving as Artistic Director at the Center Theatre Group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989537\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1391\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989537\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595-768x534.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595-1536x1068.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">SF Playhouse’s production of the Broadway hit musical ‘Hairspray’ opens in July. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://sfplayhouse.org/2025-2026-season/hairspray/\">Hairspray\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>SF Playhouse\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>July 10–Sept. 12, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes you just want to go to the theater and dance in your seat. While \u003ci>Hairspray\u003c/i> is loaded with great hits in the spirit of 1960s R&B groups, it also doubles as a slick commentary on racism and societal acceptance. The story is told through the lens of plus-sized Tracy Turnblad and her mission to bring marginalized people into the spotlight through a television dance show. As good as the 2007 film was, starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron and a fresh-faced Nikki Blonsky, hearing the numbers live is a whole ‘nother vibe. Artistic director Bill English handles directing duties. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989540\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 940px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/PS-2025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"627\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/PS-2025.jpg 940w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/PS-2025-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/PS-2025-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stephen Sherwood and Vanessa Alvarez in ‘A Mysterious Demise’ by Paul Braverman, part of last year’s 2025 Pear Slices Festival. \u003ccite>(The Pear)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.thepear.org/season24\">Pear Slices\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The Pear Theatre\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>July 19–Aug. 3, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New works are the heartbeat of the American theater, and terrific incubators abound in the Bay Area, including the popular \u003ci>Pear Slices\u003c/i> festival at the Pear Theatre. Over the course of the festival’s 24 years, more than 100 new works have been brought to audiences, with the 2025 production offering eight brand new stories. At this year’s 24th annual iteration of the series, the plays are nicely varied, with a mix of comic and poignant works. Tonya Mara and Joey Dippel tag-team the direction. \u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2026\">2026 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a year of particular rockiness, Bay Area theatre continues to experience ups and downs. While some companies have closed, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DWAoR6UFB3r/?img_index=1\">3Below in San Jose\u003c/a>, others are reinventing old spaces into new beginnings, like San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.rayoflighttheatre.com/thebarb\">Ray of Light\u003c/a> and their fresh, intimate performance space, the Barbary Stage. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This summer’s theater in our region offers new ideas, but also some nostalgia. Lisa Vroman played Christine Daaé in \u003ci>The Phantom of the Opera\u003c/i> when it ran in San Francisco for more than five years in the 1990s; when the revitalized production returns to the city May 29–June 21, Vroman will take on the role of choreographer Madame Giry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if an angry vocal instructor with bad skin who lives in the damp catacombs of an opera house isn’t your vibe, never fear — here are 11 other fantastic plays and musicals running all over the Bay Area this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989541\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1452\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989541\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3-160x116.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3-768x558.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/3-1536x1115.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jean-Michel (Landyn Endo) and Anne (Akhila Narayanan) navigate their very opposite parents on their journey toward impending nuptials in ‘La Cage aux Folles’ at Theatre Rhinoceros in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Scott Sidorsky)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.therhino.org/\">La Cage aux Folles\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Theatre Rhinoceros, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 16–June 7\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jean-Michel’s dad Georges is the master of ceremonies at a Saint-Tropez drag nightclub. Anne’s dad is head of the Tradition, Family and Morality Party that’s trying to close drag clubs. How will these two get along now that their kids are in love? A bevy of lies ensue to try and assuage Anne’s family, yet by the end, everyone needs each other and drag artists win the day. The intimate performance space in the historic Castro District is a perfect spot for this joyous musical, written by dynamic duo Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein. Longtime executive artistic director John Fisher and development director/company manager Crystal Liu share directing duties. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989543\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1601px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1601\" height=\"1281\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989543\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed.png 1601w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed-160x128.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed-768x614.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/unnamed-1536x1229.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1601px) 100vw, 1601px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manu Narayan, background and Kuhoo Verma star in the world premiere musical adaptation of the 2013 film ‘The Lunchbox’ at Berkeley Rep, directed by Rachel Chavkin. \u003ccite>(HanJie Chow)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyrep.org/shows/the-lunchbox-nkft\">The Lunchbox\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 17–June 28, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Area audiences can certainly get used to seeing the uber-talented Kuhoo Verma, who’s spent time at both Berkeley Rep and ACT San Francisco in recent years. She completed an Off-Broadway run in \u003ci>Heathers\u003c/i> this past April; she now stars in this newly adapted musical. Based on Ritesh Batra’s popular 2013 film, \u003ci>The Lunchbox\u003c/i> is set in Mumbai, where a young wife and an older widower close to retirement begin a correspondence through a wrong lunch delivery. Notes hold deeper truths, and a romance begins to blossom. Batra serves as co-lyricist with sibling music group The Lazours (\u003ci>We Live in Cairo\u003c/i>), while \u003ci>Hadestown\u003c/i> director Rachel Chavkin handles the directing. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989497\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1054\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989497\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/HOBA_53-1-1536x809.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lisa Ramirez rehearses as the title character of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ at Oakland Theater Project. The company is producing a new adaptation by Chay Yew. \u003ccite>(Adam Elder Montanaro)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://oaklandtheaterproject.org/\">The House of Bernarda Alba\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oakland Theater Project, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 22–June 7, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca remains one of the most thrilling artists of the 20th century. A sly critic of the brutal General Francisco Franco, Lorca was ultimately killed by firing squad in 1936 at age 38. In a new adaptation of Lorca’s \u003ci>The House of Bernarda Alba\u003c/i> by Chay Yew, Matriarch Bernarda demands that her five daughters mourn the loss of their father for eight years. Yet as time goes on, the sisters begin to self-destruct, mostly driven by a single love interest among multiple sisters, a man the audience never sees. Lisa Ramirez, a terrific actor and co-artistic director of the company, takes on the title role, directed by Michael Socrates Moran. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989544\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989544\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910.jpeg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_0910-1200x675.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bess Wohl’s ‘Continuity’ at Shotgun Players takes place on a Hollywood set. \u003ccite>(Shotgun Players)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://shotgunplayers.org/show/continuity/\">Continuity\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Ashby Stage, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 23–June 21, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Emilie Whelan directs this fast-paced comedy about life on a Hollywood set. As art imitates life, Maria is on edge as she keeps the production together amidst wild chaos. Egos, secrets and too much truth for comfort inform the story, a classic example of art imitating life. Shotgun Players are coming off a terrific production of another Pulitzer winning playwright, Edward Albee, and his risk-taking play \u003ci>The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?\u003c/i>, continuing a daring streak of staging stories with penetrating questions and complicated answers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989542\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1475\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989542\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons-160x118.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons-768x566.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Billie-J.-Simmons-1536x1133.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Billie J. Simmons, left, and Kelly Rinehart take on powerful emotional demands in ‘’night, Mother’ at the Altarena Playhouse in Alameda.\u003cbr> \u003ccite>(Altarena Playhouse)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.altarena.org/2026-season-announcement/night-mother/\">’night, Mother\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Altarena Playhouse, Alameda\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>May 29–June 28, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Marsha Norman’s story focuses on mother Thelma (Billie J. Simmons) and her daughter Jessie (Kelly Rinehart), who declares she is about to take her own life. Thelma’s battle for Jessie to reconsider becomes a bond, based on old secrets and long-standing harm. The small Altarena Playhouse in Alameda, featuring a three-quarter stage and just north of 100 seats, is an ideal venue for these types of personal stories. Actor, director and podcaster ShawnJ West directs. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989553\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/099.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"914\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989553\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/099.jpeg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/099-160x114.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/099-768x548.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Erin Rose Solorio and Sean Okuniewicz play the roles of Scaramouche and Galileo in the San Jose Stage production of ‘We Will Rock You,’ featuring the hits of rock band Queen. \u003ccite>(Dave Lepori)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.thestage.org/\">We Will Rock You\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>San Jose Stage\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>June 3–28, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s never a bad time to dive into the hits of legendary rock band Queen, which boasted one of rock music’s greatest frontmen, Freddie Mercury. In this jukebox musical, two misfits, Galileo and Scaramouche, join a group of bohemians tasked with finding the buried sacred instruments that will allow them to save rock and roll. Featuring some of Queen’s biggest hits, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” and “Somebody to Love,” the show is an opportunity to rock out to live Queen covers and dance in the aisles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989492\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989492\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DenmoIbrahim-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Playwright Denmo Ibrahim’s ‘Arab Spring’ premiere is a collaboration between Golden Thread Productions and SFBATCO. \u003ccite>(Clara Rice Photography)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://goldenthread.org/productions/arab-spring/\">Arab Spring\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Potrero Stage, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>June 19–July 12, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Golden Thread Productions and SFBATCO, two of the Bay Area’s most consequential creators of new work, join forces for this promising co-production. In \u003ci>Arab Spring\u003c/i>, two siblings (played by Salim Razawi and Arti Ishak) return to the suburbs to bury their deadbeat dad, and themes of family and religion come to the forefront. Written by Golden Thread resident playwright Denmo Ibrahim and directed by Crowded Fire co-executive director Nailah Unole didanas’ea Harper-Malveaux, the play promises to be explosive and timely. It’s also the first full production under new artistic director Nabra Nelson, who took over from Sahar Assaf in December. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989538\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1009px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Evren-Odcikin.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1009\" height=\"673\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989538\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Evren-Odcikin.jpg 1009w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Evren-Odcikin-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Evren-Odcikin-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1009px) 100vw, 1009px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Evren Odcikin presents his adaptation of ‘As You Like It’ at Marin Shakespeare Company in June and July. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Evren Odcikin)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.marinshakespeare.org/as-you-like-it/\">As You Like It\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Marin Shakespeare Co.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>June 19–July 19, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it’s summer in the Bay Area and one does not go see Shakespeare outdoors, is it really summertime? Transitioning from T-shirt to jacket to blanket throughout a summer night is a rite of passage in these parts, and very few places are better suited for it than Marin. This year, exceptional theater maker Evren Odcikin is premiering his adaptation of \u003ci>As You Like It\u003c/i>, with one of Shakespeare’s most beloved characters, the brilliant light Rosalind. Banished from the court, Rosalind disguises herself as the boy Ganymede and darts to the forest of Arden, where she encounters her love interest Orlando. It’s a classic pastoral comedy of music and romance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989536\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 750px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Geetha-Reddy-Headshot-2026-small.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989536\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Geetha-Reddy-Headshot-2026-small.jpg 750w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Geetha-Reddy-Headshot-2026-small-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area-based playwright and screenwriter Geetha Reddy’s world premiere of ‘The Employee Dharma Handbook’ opens at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in July. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Geetha Reddy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://theatreworks.org/mainstage/the-employee-dharma-handbook/\">The Employee Dharma Handbook\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Mountain View\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>July 8–Aug. 2, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this prominent world premiere, Bay Area playwright Geetha Reddy explores dharma as a concept of morals and responsibilities in the workplace, as HR executive Val wrestles with suspicions of sexism among a group of lead engineers preparing a rocket launch. Reddy’s exploration of identity, culture and nepotism is directed by Snehal Desai, a former artistic director at Los Angeles’ East West Players currently serving as Artistic Director at the Center Theatre Group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989537\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1391\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989537\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595-768x534.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-162712595-1536x1068.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">SF Playhouse’s production of the Broadway hit musical ‘Hairspray’ opens in July. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://sfplayhouse.org/2025-2026-season/hairspray/\">Hairspray\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>SF Playhouse\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>July 10–Sept. 12, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes you just want to go to the theater and dance in your seat. While \u003ci>Hairspray\u003c/i> is loaded with great hits in the spirit of 1960s R&B groups, it also doubles as a slick commentary on racism and societal acceptance. The story is told through the lens of plus-sized Tracy Turnblad and her mission to bring marginalized people into the spotlight through a television dance show. As good as the 2007 film was, starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron and a fresh-faced Nikki Blonsky, hearing the numbers live is a whole ‘nother vibe. Artistic director Bill English handles directing duties. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989540\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 940px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/PS-2025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"627\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/PS-2025.jpg 940w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/PS-2025-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/PS-2025-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stephen Sherwood and Vanessa Alvarez in ‘A Mysterious Demise’ by Paul Braverman, part of last year’s 2025 Pear Slices Festival. \u003ccite>(The Pear)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.thepear.org/season24\">Pear Slices\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The Pear Theatre\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>July 19–Aug. 3, 2026\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New works are the heartbeat of the American theater, and terrific incubators abound in the Bay Area, including the popular \u003ci>Pear Slices\u003c/i> festival at the Pear Theatre. Over the course of the festival’s 24 years, more than 100 new works have been brought to audiences, with the 2025 production offering eight brand new stories. At this year’s 24th annual iteration of the series, the plays are nicely varied, with a mix of comic and poignant works. Tonya Mara and Joey Dippel tag-team the direction. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "bay-area-oakland-san-francisco-napa-music-festivals-summer-2026",
"title": "8 Bay Area Music Festivals You Don't Want to Miss This Summer",
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"headTitle": "8 Bay Area Music Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2026\">2026 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether you prefer huge multi-day \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/music-festivals\">music festivals\u003c/a> or small, genre-specific, curated experiences, the Bay Area has no shortage of live music this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while Latin music festival \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13987034/la-onda-music-festival-canceled-in-napa\">La Onda\u003c/a> and the jazz- and hip-hop-focused \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13932390/blue-note-robert-glasper-rakim-chance-nas-mary-j-blige\">Black Radio Experience\u003c/a> are canceled this year, new events like Total Accord Fest have popped up to celebrate the Bay Area’s wealth of diverse talent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Below you’ll find our summer music festival picks, ranging from the free and budget-friendly to splurge-worthy experiences.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981573\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981573\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">LCD Soundsystem performing in 2025 at the Portola Festival in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bottlerocknapavalley.com/experiences/#aftershows\">BottleRock After Dark\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 19–24\u003cbr>\nVarious venues, Bay Area\u003cbr>\n$55–$357 per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BottleRock, the Napa Valley festival with Foo Fighters, Backstreet Boys, Lorde, Sombr, Lil Wayne and Teddy Swims, is sold out. But the Napa Valley festival has two dozen After Dark concerts at venues in all corners of the Bay Area, each featuring an artist from its vast, intergenerational lineup. A few highlights: Ludacris headlines the Graton Resort in Rohnert Park on May 23, and synth-pop veterans Cut Copy take the stage at Berkeley’s UC Theatre on May 21. Southern rock sister duo Larkin Poe performs at the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park on May 22. As of this writing, LCD Soundsystem’s After Dark show at Napa Music Hall on May 22 is sold out. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13905554\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13905554\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brijean performing in 2021 at Outside Lands in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.totalaccordagency.com/public-programming\">Total Accord Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 3–20\u003cbr>\nVarious venues, San Francisco\u003cbr>\nFree–$30 per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For those looking to get to know the Bay Area’s independent music scene, the Total Accord Festival is a roadmap to the region’s homegrown artists, storied nightclubs and eclectic dives. Local talent agency Total Accord takes over San Francisco clubs starting June 3 at the Bottom of the Hill with local rockers For Horses. On June 7, electronic pop band The Seshen performs with experimental singer-songwriter Aroma at the Richmond District’s classic 4 Star Theatre. (The evening will features a drag show and premiere of Total Accord’s documentary.) Conga-forward dance-pop duo Brijean headlines the Rickshaw Stop on June 11, and R&B singer Elujay, rapper Lovey and Family Not a Group vocalist SundaY perform at The Independent on June 13. Each show costs less than $30, and a few of them are free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917881\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13917881\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"657\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694-800x513.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694-1020x654.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694-768x493.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Colombian band Bomba Estéreo perform during the ‘Jungla’ Tour at The Plaza Live on August 10, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. \u003ccite>(Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sterngrove.org/\">Stern Grove Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 14–Aug. 16\u003cbr>\nSigmund Stern Grove, San Francisco\u003cbr>\nFree\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each summer, nearly 10,000 music fans fill the sloping, eucalyptus-lined hillside of Sigmund Stern Grove every Sunday for free live music. The concert series, now in its 89th year, gets underway on June 14 with Indian rock band Peter Cat Recording Co., followed by Colombian electro-pop outfit Bomba Estéreo on June 21. Dancehall-inspired EDM trio Major Lazer arrives with support from Richmond rapper Fijiana on July 5. Stern Grove concludes with its Big Picnic grand finale weekend, with Public Enemy headlining Aug. 15 and Al Green on Aug. 16. Although Stern Grove is free, fans must \u003ca href=\"https://www.sterngrove.org/galotterytickets\">enter a lottery\u003c/a> to secure tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13934346\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13934346\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mistah F.A.B. in 2023 at Hiero Day in Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. \u003ccite>(Eric Arnold/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://lakefestoakland.com/\">LakeFest\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 27\u003cbr>\nLake Merritt, Oakland\u003cbr>\n$12–$23\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>LakeFest is the type of event where you can bring your friends, your toddler or your grandma — and actually, why not all of the above? The day of music and culture at Lake Merritt returns with headlining performances from R&B singers Vedo and Eric Bellinger, plus some top-tier East Bay rap talent: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13972539/mani-draper-richmond-grand-nationxl\">Mani Draper\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13967001/paris-nights-east-oakland-rapper-videos-90s-throwbacks\">Paris Nights\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/mistah-fab\">Mistah F.A.B\u003c/a>. New at the festival this year is the Gospel Circle, a Christian-themed stage with a gospel choir “sing-off” competition, live music, stand-up comedy and more. Expect local vendors, barbecue and other delicious cuisine, all in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976929\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976929\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk.jpg\" alt=\"A Black man in glasses and a roll-up beanie smiles and gestures in front of a cluttered bookshelf\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-1920x1080.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">E-40 performing in 2025 at NPR’s Tiny Desk in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite>(Zayrha Rodriguez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/nelly-e-40-july-4th-weekend-block-party-184141?utm_source=themidway&utm_medium=venuewebsite\">4th of July Weekend Block Party\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 5\u003cbr>\nThe Midway, San Francisco\u003cbr>\n$49–$149\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Area rap fans have a place to go dumb on Independence Day when Vallejo rap titan E-40 co-headlines a 4th of July bash at the Midway with “Hot In Herre” hitmaker Nelly. In addition to the chance to hear “Tell Me When To Go” and “Function” live, the party offers a stacked lineup of some of the Bay’s best DJs. Kehlani’s official selector Noodles will be behind the decks, along with the Valkyries’ own DJ Shellheart, the Warriors’ D-Sharp, Knowpa Slaps, DJ Mind Motion, Slowpoke and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13915730\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13915730\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bikini Kill performing in 2022 at Mosswood Meltdown in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://mosswoodmeltdown.com/\">Mosswood Meltdown\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 17–19\u003cbr>\nMosswood Park, Oakland\u003cbr>\n$99–$129 per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>John Waters just celebrated his 80th birthday with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/1sssveb/john_waters_celebrates_his_80th_birthday_with/\">poppers-themed cake\u003c/a>, so you know the filmmaker, provocateur and so-called “Pope of Trash” has no plans of slowing down. He returns to Oakland this July to host the punk festival Mosswood Meltdown, which kicks off via a Friday pre-party with indie rockers \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985125/pavement-mosswood-meltdown-2026\">Pavement\u003c/a> and Vivian Girls. The fun continues Saturday with sets from the 79-year-old “godfather of Punk” Iggy Pop, plus Japan’s Otoboke Beaver and Philly’s Mannequin Pussy. Riot grrrl icons Bikini Kill headline Sunday, after sets from the Return of Jackie and Judy (Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s Ramones tribute band), the Dead Milkmen and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13919608\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13919608\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Charli XCX performs in 2022 at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://sfoutsidelands.com/\">Outside Lands\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug. 7–9\u003cbr>\nGolden Gate Park, San Francisco\u003cbr>\n$269+ per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside Lands is one of the Bay Area’s most popular festivals, in part because of its range. This year, pop it-girls Charli XCX and PinkPantheress share the stage with rap stars like GloRilla and Baby Keem, and buzzy rock bands Wet Leg, Turnstile and Geese. The Strokes, the XX and Modest Mouse offer a dose of indie nostalgia; Mariah the Scientist, Kwn and Destin Conrad represent the new school of R&B; and rap veterans Clipse promise razor-sharp lyrical prowess. On top of the packed musical lineup, Outside Lands also has a wealth of food, beverage and cannabis options, an open-air queer nightclub with drag shows and even a wedding chapel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1760\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-2000x1375.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-160x110.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-768x528.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-1536x1056.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-2048x1408.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paper Jam. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the artists)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://sfbaypopfest.com/\">SF Bay Popfest\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug. 20–23\u003cbr>\nBottom of the Hill, San Francisco\u003cbr>\n$20–$30 per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill has been a proving ground for new talent for 35 years; Oasis, Lizzo and Alanis Morissette all played the charmingly divey nightclub before they blew up. Unfortunately, as the surrounding neighborhood changes, it’ll \u003ca href=\"https://www.coyotemedia.org/san-francisco-club-bottom-of-the-hill-to-close-at-the-end-of-2026/\">close its doors for the final time at the end of this year\u003c/a>. Before the venue says goodbye, it has a packed calendar of shows, including SF Bay Popfest. The mini festival features four days of stacked indie rock, punk and pop acts, including the Aislers Set, Tony Molina, Dear Nora, The Umbrellas, Paper Jam and many more.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2026\">2026 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether you prefer huge multi-day \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/music-festivals\">music festivals\u003c/a> or small, genre-specific, curated experiences, the Bay Area has no shortage of live music this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while Latin music festival \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13987034/la-onda-music-festival-canceled-in-napa\">La Onda\u003c/a> and the jazz- and hip-hop-focused \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13932390/blue-note-robert-glasper-rakim-chance-nas-mary-j-blige\">Black Radio Experience\u003c/a> are canceled this year, new events like Total Accord Fest have popped up to celebrate the Bay Area’s wealth of diverse talent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Below you’ll find our summer music festival picks, ranging from the free and budget-friendly to splurge-worthy experiences.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981573\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981573\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_PORTOLA_DAY1_GH-38-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">LCD Soundsystem performing in 2025 at the Portola Festival in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bottlerocknapavalley.com/experiences/#aftershows\">BottleRock After Dark\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 19–24\u003cbr>\nVarious venues, Bay Area\u003cbr>\n$55–$357 per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BottleRock, the Napa Valley festival with Foo Fighters, Backstreet Boys, Lorde, Sombr, Lil Wayne and Teddy Swims, is sold out. But the Napa Valley festival has two dozen After Dark concerts at venues in all corners of the Bay Area, each featuring an artist from its vast, intergenerational lineup. A few highlights: Ludacris headlines the Graton Resort in Rohnert Park on May 23, and synth-pop veterans Cut Copy take the stage at Berkeley’s UC Theatre on May 21. Southern rock sister duo Larkin Poe performs at the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park on May 22. As of this writing, LCD Soundsystem’s After Dark show at Napa Music Hall on May 22 is sold out. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13905554\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13905554\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brijean performing in 2021 at Outside Lands in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.totalaccordagency.com/public-programming\">Total Accord Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 3–20\u003cbr>\nVarious venues, San Francisco\u003cbr>\nFree–$30 per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For those looking to get to know the Bay Area’s independent music scene, the Total Accord Festival is a roadmap to the region’s homegrown artists, storied nightclubs and eclectic dives. Local talent agency Total Accord takes over San Francisco clubs starting June 3 at the Bottom of the Hill with local rockers For Horses. On June 7, electronic pop band The Seshen performs with experimental singer-songwriter Aroma at the Richmond District’s classic 4 Star Theatre. (The evening will features a drag show and premiere of Total Accord’s documentary.) Conga-forward dance-pop duo Brijean headlines the Rickshaw Stop on June 11, and R&B singer Elujay, rapper Lovey and Family Not a Group vocalist SundaY perform at The Independent on June 13. Each show costs less than $30, and a few of them are free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917881\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13917881\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"657\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694-800x513.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694-1020x654.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1014882694-768x493.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Colombian band Bomba Estéreo perform during the ‘Jungla’ Tour at The Plaza Live on August 10, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. \u003ccite>(Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sterngrove.org/\">Stern Grove Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 14–Aug. 16\u003cbr>\nSigmund Stern Grove, San Francisco\u003cbr>\nFree\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each summer, nearly 10,000 music fans fill the sloping, eucalyptus-lined hillside of Sigmund Stern Grove every Sunday for free live music. The concert series, now in its 89th year, gets underway on June 14 with Indian rock band Peter Cat Recording Co., followed by Colombian electro-pop outfit Bomba Estéreo on June 21. Dancehall-inspired EDM trio Major Lazer arrives with support from Richmond rapper Fijiana on July 5. Stern Grove concludes with its Big Picnic grand finale weekend, with Public Enemy headlining Aug. 15 and Al Green on Aug. 16. Although Stern Grove is free, fans must \u003ca href=\"https://www.sterngrove.org/galotterytickets\">enter a lottery\u003c/a> to secure tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13934346\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13934346\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/DSC00055-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mistah F.A.B. in 2023 at Hiero Day in Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. \u003ccite>(Eric Arnold/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://lakefestoakland.com/\">LakeFest\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 27\u003cbr>\nLake Merritt, Oakland\u003cbr>\n$12–$23\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>LakeFest is the type of event where you can bring your friends, your toddler or your grandma — and actually, why not all of the above? The day of music and culture at Lake Merritt returns with headlining performances from R&B singers Vedo and Eric Bellinger, plus some top-tier East Bay rap talent: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13972539/mani-draper-richmond-grand-nationxl\">Mani Draper\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13967001/paris-nights-east-oakland-rapper-videos-90s-throwbacks\">Paris Nights\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/mistah-fab\">Mistah F.A.B\u003c/a>. New at the festival this year is the Gospel Circle, a Christian-themed stage with a gospel choir “sing-off” competition, live music, stand-up comedy and more. Expect local vendors, barbecue and other delicious cuisine, all in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976929\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976929\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk.jpg\" alt=\"A Black man in glasses and a roll-up beanie smiles and gestures in front of a cluttered bookshelf\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/E40.TinyDesk-1920x1080.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">E-40 performing in 2025 at NPR’s Tiny Desk in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite>(Zayrha Rodriguez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/nelly-e-40-july-4th-weekend-block-party-184141?utm_source=themidway&utm_medium=venuewebsite\">4th of July Weekend Block Party\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 5\u003cbr>\nThe Midway, San Francisco\u003cbr>\n$49–$149\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Area rap fans have a place to go dumb on Independence Day when Vallejo rap titan E-40 co-headlines a 4th of July bash at the Midway with “Hot In Herre” hitmaker Nelly. In addition to the chance to hear “Tell Me When To Go” and “Function” live, the party offers a stacked lineup of some of the Bay’s best DJs. Kehlani’s official selector Noodles will be behind the decks, along with the Valkyries’ own DJ Shellheart, the Warriors’ D-Sharp, Knowpa Slaps, DJ Mind Motion, Slowpoke and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13915730\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13915730\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Bikini-Kill-headline-Mosswood-Meltdown-in-Oakland-on-Sunday-July-3-2022.-003-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bikini Kill performing in 2022 at Mosswood Meltdown in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://mosswoodmeltdown.com/\">Mosswood Meltdown\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 17–19\u003cbr>\nMosswood Park, Oakland\u003cbr>\n$99–$129 per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>John Waters just celebrated his 80th birthday with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/1sssveb/john_waters_celebrates_his_80th_birthday_with/\">poppers-themed cake\u003c/a>, so you know the filmmaker, provocateur and so-called “Pope of Trash” has no plans of slowing down. He returns to Oakland this July to host the punk festival Mosswood Meltdown, which kicks off via a Friday pre-party with indie rockers \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985125/pavement-mosswood-meltdown-2026\">Pavement\u003c/a> and Vivian Girls. The fun continues Saturday with sets from the 79-year-old “godfather of Punk” Iggy Pop, plus Japan’s Otoboke Beaver and Philly’s Mannequin Pussy. Riot grrrl icons Bikini Kill headline Sunday, after sets from the Return of Jackie and Judy (Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s Ramones tribute band), the Dead Milkmen and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13919608\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13919608\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Charli-XCX-performs-at-Portola-Music-Festival-in-San-Francisco-on-Saturday-Sept.-24-2022.-004-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Charli XCX performs in 2022 at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://sfoutsidelands.com/\">Outside Lands\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug. 7–9\u003cbr>\nGolden Gate Park, San Francisco\u003cbr>\n$269+ per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside Lands is one of the Bay Area’s most popular festivals, in part because of its range. This year, pop it-girls Charli XCX and PinkPantheress share the stage with rap stars like GloRilla and Baby Keem, and buzzy rock bands Wet Leg, Turnstile and Geese. The Strokes, the XX and Modest Mouse offer a dose of indie nostalgia; Mariah the Scientist, Kwn and Destin Conrad represent the new school of R&B; and rap veterans Clipse promise razor-sharp lyrical prowess. On top of the packed musical lineup, Outside Lands also has a wealth of food, beverage and cannabis options, an open-air queer nightclub with drag shows and even a wedding chapel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1760\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-2000x1375.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-160x110.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-768x528.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-1536x1056.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Paper-Jam-2-2048x1408.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paper Jam. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the artists)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://sfbaypopfest.com/\">SF Bay Popfest\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug. 20–23\u003cbr>\nBottom of the Hill, San Francisco\u003cbr>\n$20–$30 per day\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill has been a proving ground for new talent for 35 years; Oasis, Lizzo and Alanis Morissette all played the charmingly divey nightclub before they blew up. Unfortunately, as the surrounding neighborhood changes, it’ll \u003ca href=\"https://www.coyotemedia.org/san-francisco-club-bottom-of-the-hill-to-close-at-the-end-of-2026/\">close its doors for the final time at the end of this year\u003c/a>. Before the venue says goodbye, it has a packed calendar of shows, including SF Bay Popfest. The mini festival features four days of stacked indie rock, punk and pop acts, including the Aislers Set, Tony Molina, Dear Nora, The Umbrellas, Paper Jam and many more.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "visual-art-summer-guide-2026-museum-gallery-shows",
"title": "The 10 Best Museum and Gallery Shows to See in the Bay Area This Summer",
"publishDate": 1778508009,
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"headTitle": "The 10 Best Museum and Gallery Shows to See in the Bay Area This Summer | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2026\">2026 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five months into 2026, a lot has happened in the Bay Area’s visual art scene. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985359/california-college-of-the-arts-closing-vanderbilt-university\">Devastating closures\u003c/a> were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071507/financial-crisis-forces-sfs-mission-cultural-center-for-latino-arts-to-close\">announced\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.betterbayarea.org/rally_for_the_arts_at_city_hall\">rallies\u003c/a> were held, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13986534/somarts-artists-live-here-community-meeting-sf\">artists joined forces\u003c/a> to advocate for community centers and their funding. Oakland hired a \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/27/oakland-names-cultural-affairs-manager-lyz-luke/\">cultural affairs director\u003c/a>. San Francisco hired an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988903/san-francisco-appoints-matthew-goudeau-to-top-arts-job\">executive director of arts and culture\u003c/a>. Many of us learned about the nuances of \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/03/daniel-lurie-city-charter-san-francisco-consolidation/\">city charter reform\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All the while, artists continued to plug away in the face of complex bureaucratic shenanigans. And now, we have a summer full of the fruits of their labor: well-deserved museum exhibitions; exciting gallery solos; and residency open houses that offer art-lovers the bragging rights of seeing projects in their early stages. See you out there!\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989197\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026.jpg\" alt=\"abstract muted painting with greenery on two panels\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989197\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ranu Mukherjee, ‘healers,’ 2026; Pigment, crystalina, and UV inkjet print on silk sari on linen, 60 x 60 inches. \u003ccite>(Gallery Wendi Norris)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Ranu Mukherjee, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://gallerywendinorris.com/exhibitions/112-ranu-mukherjee-the-long-middle/\">The Long Middle\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>May 20–July 3, 2026\u003cbr>\nGallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13969590/sf-ballet-curtain-artist-ranu-mukherjee-cool-britannia\">Ranu Mukherjee\u003c/a>, a longtime Bay Area artist and educator who recently decamped to Southern California, returns to San Francisco for her sixth solo show at Gallery Wendi Norris. \u003ci>The Long Middle\u003c/i> will include eight new paintings in Mukherjee’s complex, layered style. Her materials — pigment, crystalina (iridescent glitter), ink, chalk pastel, inkjet print — sit on top of and blend into patterned grounds created with cotton jamdani and silk sari textiles. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her abstract, dreamy renderings of plants, animals and interior spaces convey a sense of constant movement and change. The eye cannot quite fix on a foreground, or an order of operations. Instead, Mukherjee presents fragmented, entropic ecosystems, fitting depictions of our current state of environmental, social and political affairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989242\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000.jpg\" alt=\"underwater image of adult arms and swimming child\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1293\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989242\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000-768x497.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000-1536x993.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Larry Sultan, ‘Untitled,’ from the series ‘Swimmers,’ 1978–82; pigment print. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Casemore Gallery and Estate of Larry Sultan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://fraenkelgallery.com/exhibitions/slice-of-the-pie-2026\">Slice of the Pie: Fourteen Bay Area Galleries & What Makes Them Different\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>May 28–Aug. 15, 2026\u003cbr>\nFraenkel Gallery, San Francisco\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After an onslaught of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984752/jack-fischer-gallery-closing-minnesota-street-project\">gallery closures\u003c/a> in 2025, this generous group exhibition takes stock of the Bay Area’s commercial landscape and finds reason to be optimistic. Featuring the Bay Area’s “most influential and idiosyncratic” art galleries, and displaying more than 40 artists, \u003ci>Slice of the Pie\u003c/i> includes both the time-honored (Crown Point Press, founded in 1962) and the young upstarts (Jonathan Carver Moore, founded in 2023). \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The very premise of the show reflects the collaboration that has always shaped the Bay Area scene, where chairs are loaned for artist talks, openings are timed to coincide, and gallerists understand they don’t have to exist in a zero-sum game. Come for familiar faces, new artistic discoveries and a heap of wholesomeness that feels very Fraenkel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989450\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000.jpg\" alt=\"ceramic sculpture of green-spotted hands with black tubing tangled around\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cathy Lu, ‘Nuwa with Soy Sauce,’ 2023; Porcelain and glaze, water pump, tubing, soy sauce, gold screws and washers, 48 × 40 × 40 in. \u003ccite>(Photo by David Torralva; Courtesy of the artist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://personalspace.space/\">Giant Steps\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>May 31–July 19, 2026\u003cbr>\n\u003ca href=\"https://personalspace.space/\">Personal Space\u003c/a>, Vallejo\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For this show, itinerant ceramicist and erstwhile Bay Area denizen \u003ca href=\"https://www.renieldelrosario.com/\">Reniel Del Rosario\u003c/a> gathers artists using clay in a way that makes you question “why do this this way?” (I’m paraphrasing here.) Artists include Fred DeWitt, Sahar Khoury, Cathy Lu and six others making work that joyfully, playfully, precariously stretches the limits of their chosen material. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exhibition is a smaller-scale, more intimate take on \u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://rcwg.scrippscollege.edu/blog/exhibitions/81st-scripps-college-ceramic-annual-means-to-an-end/\">Means to an End\u003c/a>\u003c/i>, aka the 81st Scripps College Ceramic Annual (the longest continuous exhibition of contemporary ceramics in the country), a maximalist show curated by Del Rosario earlier this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000.jpg\" alt=\"painting of cat in sunbeam under table\" width=\"1777\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989448\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000-160x180.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000-768x864.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000-1365x1536.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Will Yackulic, ‘Winter Sun,’ 2026; Oil on wood panel, 9 x 7.25 inches framed. \u003ccite>(pt.2)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.part2gallery.com/upcoming/willyackulic/2026\">Will Yackulic\u003c/a>, ‘A Certain Slant of Light’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 6–July 18, 2026\u003cbr>\npt.2, Oakland\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A friend recently pulled his small, perfect \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13935540/will-yackulic-et-al-time-of-my-life\">Will Yackulic\u003c/a> painting out of its wrapping and I have rarely been filled with so much covetous envy. \u003ci>Not fair!\u003c/i> I thought. Then I remembered that my eyeballs would soon be treated to a full show of Yackulic’s satisfyingly rendered, delicate observations of daily life. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A poetic sample platter of previous paintings, to whet our collective appetite for June: a grocery display of fruit, drenched in gold; a quickly painted assortment of beach detritus; light falling across the electric blue shadows of a picket fence. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989199\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000.jpg\" alt=\"beaded artwork of person with hands at head, densely covered in shells and tassels\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989199\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Demetri Broxton, ‘Still Waters Run Deep,’ 2025; Japanese & Czech glass beads, sequins, cowrie shells, quartz, pressed glass, wooden beads, brass, silver, rayon chainette, wool, serigraph printed on Japanese sateen cotton, mounted on birch board, 40 x 25 x 1 inches. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the artist and MoAD)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Demetri Broxton, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.moadsf.org/exhibitions/ancestral-echoes\">Ancestral Echoes — Crops of Empire\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 10–Aug. 16, 2026\u003cbr>\nMuseum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a decade, MoAD’s Emerging Artist Program has introduced audiences to Bay Area artists on the cusp of wider recognition. Selected artists get a three-month show at the museum; audiences get to say “we saw them back when.” Next on the schedule (after Jasmine Ross’ photo show \u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.moadsf.org/exhibitions/beauty-plus\">Beauty Plus\u003c/a>\u003c/i>) is Demetri Broxton, a mixed media artist who is also somehow the executive director of the arts nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://rootdivision.org/\">Root Division\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In group presentations over the past few years, Broxton’s work has stood out for its density and tactility. With \u003ci>Ancestral Echoes\u003c/i>, he adorns archival photographs, printed on fabric, with sequins, beads, shells and tassels. Loosed from history, black-and-white images become ritual objects that shimmer and sparkle, full of the potential for liveliness — or at least sound and movement — once again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989198\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/2_Mildred-Howard-Untitled-1975.-Photo-collage-and-screen-print-on-paper.-Courtesy-of-The-Mildred-Howard-Archive-The-Bancroft-Library-University-of-California-Berkeley_Side1-1024x436.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"image of Black woman collaged onto $100 bill\" width=\"1024\" height=\"436\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989198\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/2_Mildred-Howard-Untitled-1975.-Photo-collage-and-screen-print-on-paper.-Courtesy-of-The-Mildred-Howard-Archive-The-Bancroft-Library-University-of-California-Berkeley_Side1-1024x436.jpg.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/2_Mildred-Howard-Untitled-1975.-Photo-collage-and-screen-print-on-paper.-Courtesy-of-The-Mildred-Howard-Archive-The-Bancroft-Library-University-of-California-Berkeley_Side1-1024x436.jpg-160x68.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/2_Mildred-Howard-Untitled-1975.-Photo-collage-and-screen-print-on-paper.-Courtesy-of-The-Mildred-Howard-Archive-The-Bancroft-Library-University-of-California-Berkeley_Side1-1024x436.jpg-768x327.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mildred Howard, ‘Untitled,’ 1975; Photo collage and screen print on paper. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of The Mildred Howard Archive, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Mildred Howard, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://museumca.org/on-view/mildred-howard-poetics-of-memory/\">Poetics of Memory\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 12–Oct. 11, 2026\u003cbr>\nOakland Museum of California\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It seems impossible that this is the first major museum exhibition for local luminary \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13965899/mildred-howard-collaborating-with-the-muses-part-one\">Mildred Howard\u003c/a>. And at the same time, thank goodness Howard and us — the current residents of the Bay Area — are here for this! Over the past five decades, Howard has moved between mediums (collage, found-object sculptures, installations, public art), creating a lyrical and materially inventive body of work. Even when artworks come from very personal sources, like a rediscovered 8mm film she shot as a teenager, Howard elegantly abstracts and extrapolates, pulling together both far-reaching histories and present-day realities. Current contender for show of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989217\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Running_Fence_Jean-Claude-Christo.jpg\" alt=\"A tall fence made of white fabric snakes across arid farmland hills\" width=\"1200\" height=\"875\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989217\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Running_Fence_Jean-Claude-Christo.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Running_Fence_Jean-Claude-Christo-160x117.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Running_Fence_Jean-Claude-Christo-768x560.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘Running Fence’ spanned more than 20 miles across Sonoma and Marin Counties — and was on view for just two weeks. \u003ccite>(Jean-Claude/Courtesy Museum of Sonoma County)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Christo and Jeanne-Claude, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://museumsc.org/upcoming-exhibitions/\">Running Fence at 50 Years\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 27–Nov. 8, 2026\u003cbr>\nMuseum of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The installation is now legendary: the husband-and-wife duo, who had previously wrapped art institutions and monuments, and covered a million square feet of the Australian coast in fabric, worked for four years to erect a 24.5-mile-long fabric fence across the hills of Sonoma and Marin. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It took 18 public hearings, three sessions of the Superior Courts of California, a 450-page environmental impact report and the permission of 59 ranchers. (Much of this often-contentious process is documented in the fantastic Maysles brothers’ documentary \u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.criterionchannel.com/running-fence\">Running Fence\u003c/a>\u003c/i>.) Finally, in 1976, the graceful, undulating, white strip of demarcation was installed. It remained on view for just 14 days. The Museum of Sonoma County transports visitors back to this monumental and ephemeral undertaking. And if it all seems like just yesterday, they’re \u003ca href=\"https://form.jotform.com/260627520652151\">currently soliciting\u003c/a> firsthand accounts!\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980309\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000.jpg\" alt=\"crowd seated on outdoor steps watching electronic music performance\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980309\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A performance at the Spring Open House 2025 at Headlands Center for the Arts. \u003ccite>(Tom Idle)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Residency open houses\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"https://www.headlands.org/event/summer-open-house-2026/\">Summer Open House\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>July 19, 12–5 p.m.\u003cbr>\nHeadlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"https://www.winslowhouseproject.org/visit-1/january-25-en2pw-bkf7d-wbwya-mfwal\">July 2026 Open House\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>July 26, 3–7 p.m.\u003cbr>\nWinslow House Project, Vallejo\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As much as art benefits from a formal presentation within white walls, there’s something extra special about glimpsing in-progress work at the site of its making. Two local residencies offer opportunities to tour their grounds (one a former military site in the Marin Headlands, the other a grand, historic farmhouse in the heart of Vallejo) and mingle with artists in residence. Expect screenings, performances, tasty foodstuffs and time well spent. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989240\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000.jpg\" alt=\"a spread of socket wrenches arranged in an arc\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989240\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marcel Pardo Ariza, inspiration image from ‘Las Frutas del Labor,’ 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy the artist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Marcel Pardo Ariza, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://bampfa.org/program/art-wall-marcel-pardo-ariza-las-frutas-del-labor\">Las Frutas del Labor\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Aug. 5, 2026–July 11, 2027\u003cbr>\nBerkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s been 10 years since BAMPFA moved to its Center Street location, and one of the enduring benefits of this site (in addition to easy BART access, red stairwells and great programming), is the museum’s Art Wall. The 63-foot-wide space has hosted \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13839094/barbara-stauffacher-solomon-bampfa-art-wall\">urgent statements\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://bampfa.org/program/art-wall-stephanie-syjuco-present-tense-roll-call\">pointed investigations\u003c/a> and “murals” that stretch \u003ca href=\"https://bampfa.org/program/art-wall-terri-friedman\">well beyond\u003c/a> paint on drywall. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next installation, an homage to art handlers, comes from Oakland artist \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13960325/all-the-nights-we-got-to-dance-is-a-tribute-to-queer-nightlife-in-sf\">Marcel Pardo Ariza\u003c/a>. Together with Ambrose Trataris, Ariza is co-founder of \u003ca href=\"https://www.arthandlxrs.com/\">Arthandlxrs*\u003c/a>, an organization and publication that advocates for marginalized communities within the profession — an often-invisible but vitally important role in the presentation and appreciation of art. Expect some meta-moments; I’m sure BAMPFA art handlers will have their hands (literally) in the mix.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "The summer is chock-full of well-deserved museum solos, exciting group shows and residency open houses.",
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"title": "The 10 Best Museum and Gallery Shows to See in the Bay Area This Summer | KQED",
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"headline": "The 10 Best Museum and Gallery Shows to See in the Bay Area This Summer",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2026\">2026 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five months into 2026, a lot has happened in the Bay Area’s visual art scene. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985359/california-college-of-the-arts-closing-vanderbilt-university\">Devastating closures\u003c/a> were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071507/financial-crisis-forces-sfs-mission-cultural-center-for-latino-arts-to-close\">announced\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.betterbayarea.org/rally_for_the_arts_at_city_hall\">rallies\u003c/a> were held, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13986534/somarts-artists-live-here-community-meeting-sf\">artists joined forces\u003c/a> to advocate for community centers and their funding. Oakland hired a \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/27/oakland-names-cultural-affairs-manager-lyz-luke/\">cultural affairs director\u003c/a>. San Francisco hired an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988903/san-francisco-appoints-matthew-goudeau-to-top-arts-job\">executive director of arts and culture\u003c/a>. Many of us learned about the nuances of \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/03/daniel-lurie-city-charter-san-francisco-consolidation/\">city charter reform\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All the while, artists continued to plug away in the face of complex bureaucratic shenanigans. And now, we have a summer full of the fruits of their labor: well-deserved museum exhibitions; exciting gallery solos; and residency open houses that offer art-lovers the bragging rights of seeing projects in their early stages. See you out there!\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989197\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026.jpg\" alt=\"abstract muted painting with greenery on two panels\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989197\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/RMU0229_healers_2026-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ranu Mukherjee, ‘healers,’ 2026; Pigment, crystalina, and UV inkjet print on silk sari on linen, 60 x 60 inches. \u003ccite>(Gallery Wendi Norris)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Ranu Mukherjee, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://gallerywendinorris.com/exhibitions/112-ranu-mukherjee-the-long-middle/\">The Long Middle\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>May 20–July 3, 2026\u003cbr>\nGallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13969590/sf-ballet-curtain-artist-ranu-mukherjee-cool-britannia\">Ranu Mukherjee\u003c/a>, a longtime Bay Area artist and educator who recently decamped to Southern California, returns to San Francisco for her sixth solo show at Gallery Wendi Norris. \u003ci>The Long Middle\u003c/i> will include eight new paintings in Mukherjee’s complex, layered style. Her materials — pigment, crystalina (iridescent glitter), ink, chalk pastel, inkjet print — sit on top of and blend into patterned grounds created with cotton jamdani and silk sari textiles. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her abstract, dreamy renderings of plants, animals and interior spaces convey a sense of constant movement and change. The eye cannot quite fix on a foreground, or an order of operations. Instead, Mukherjee presents fragmented, entropic ecosystems, fitting depictions of our current state of environmental, social and political affairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989242\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000.jpg\" alt=\"underwater image of adult arms and swimming child\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1293\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989242\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000-768x497.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/02-FG_Slice-of-the-Pie_Larry-Sultan_Untitled-from-the-seriest-Swimers-1978-82_2000-1536x993.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Larry Sultan, ‘Untitled,’ from the series ‘Swimmers,’ 1978–82; pigment print. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Casemore Gallery and Estate of Larry Sultan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://fraenkelgallery.com/exhibitions/slice-of-the-pie-2026\">Slice of the Pie: Fourteen Bay Area Galleries & What Makes Them Different\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>May 28–Aug. 15, 2026\u003cbr>\nFraenkel Gallery, San Francisco\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After an onslaught of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984752/jack-fischer-gallery-closing-minnesota-street-project\">gallery closures\u003c/a> in 2025, this generous group exhibition takes stock of the Bay Area’s commercial landscape and finds reason to be optimistic. Featuring the Bay Area’s “most influential and idiosyncratic” art galleries, and displaying more than 40 artists, \u003ci>Slice of the Pie\u003c/i> includes both the time-honored (Crown Point Press, founded in 1962) and the young upstarts (Jonathan Carver Moore, founded in 2023). \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The very premise of the show reflects the collaboration that has always shaped the Bay Area scene, where chairs are loaned for artist talks, openings are timed to coincide, and gallerists understand they don’t have to exist in a zero-sum game. Come for familiar faces, new artistic discoveries and a heap of wholesomeness that feels very Fraenkel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989450\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000.jpg\" alt=\"ceramic sculpture of green-spotted hands with black tubing tangled around\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cathy-Lu_photo-by-David-Torralva_2000-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cathy Lu, ‘Nuwa with Soy Sauce,’ 2023; Porcelain and glaze, water pump, tubing, soy sauce, gold screws and washers, 48 × 40 × 40 in. \u003ccite>(Photo by David Torralva; Courtesy of the artist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://personalspace.space/\">Giant Steps\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>May 31–July 19, 2026\u003cbr>\n\u003ca href=\"https://personalspace.space/\">Personal Space\u003c/a>, Vallejo\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For this show, itinerant ceramicist and erstwhile Bay Area denizen \u003ca href=\"https://www.renieldelrosario.com/\">Reniel Del Rosario\u003c/a> gathers artists using clay in a way that makes you question “why do this this way?” (I’m paraphrasing here.) Artists include Fred DeWitt, Sahar Khoury, Cathy Lu and six others making work that joyfully, playfully, precariously stretches the limits of their chosen material. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exhibition is a smaller-scale, more intimate take on \u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://rcwg.scrippscollege.edu/blog/exhibitions/81st-scripps-college-ceramic-annual-means-to-an-end/\">Means to an End\u003c/a>\u003c/i>, aka the 81st Scripps College Ceramic Annual (the longest continuous exhibition of contemporary ceramics in the country), a maximalist show curated by Del Rosario earlier this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000.jpg\" alt=\"painting of cat in sunbeam under table\" width=\"1777\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989448\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000-160x180.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000-768x864.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/wy_cat-copy_2000-1365x1536.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Will Yackulic, ‘Winter Sun,’ 2026; Oil on wood panel, 9 x 7.25 inches framed. \u003ccite>(pt.2)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.part2gallery.com/upcoming/willyackulic/2026\">Will Yackulic\u003c/a>, ‘A Certain Slant of Light’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 6–July 18, 2026\u003cbr>\npt.2, Oakland\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A friend recently pulled his small, perfect \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13935540/will-yackulic-et-al-time-of-my-life\">Will Yackulic\u003c/a> painting out of its wrapping and I have rarely been filled with so much covetous envy. \u003ci>Not fair!\u003c/i> I thought. Then I remembered that my eyeballs would soon be treated to a full show of Yackulic’s satisfyingly rendered, delicate observations of daily life. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A poetic sample platter of previous paintings, to whet our collective appetite for June: a grocery display of fruit, drenched in gold; a quickly painted assortment of beach detritus; light falling across the electric blue shadows of a picket fence. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989199\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000.jpg\" alt=\"beaded artwork of person with hands at head, densely covered in shells and tassels\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989199\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Demetri_Broxton-02_01-View_1_2000-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Demetri Broxton, ‘Still Waters Run Deep,’ 2025; Japanese & Czech glass beads, sequins, cowrie shells, quartz, pressed glass, wooden beads, brass, silver, rayon chainette, wool, serigraph printed on Japanese sateen cotton, mounted on birch board, 40 x 25 x 1 inches. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the artist and MoAD)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Demetri Broxton, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.moadsf.org/exhibitions/ancestral-echoes\">Ancestral Echoes — Crops of Empire\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 10–Aug. 16, 2026\u003cbr>\nMuseum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a decade, MoAD’s Emerging Artist Program has introduced audiences to Bay Area artists on the cusp of wider recognition. Selected artists get a three-month show at the museum; audiences get to say “we saw them back when.” Next on the schedule (after Jasmine Ross’ photo show \u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.moadsf.org/exhibitions/beauty-plus\">Beauty Plus\u003c/a>\u003c/i>) is Demetri Broxton, a mixed media artist who is also somehow the executive director of the arts nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://rootdivision.org/\">Root Division\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In group presentations over the past few years, Broxton’s work has stood out for its density and tactility. With \u003ci>Ancestral Echoes\u003c/i>, he adorns archival photographs, printed on fabric, with sequins, beads, shells and tassels. Loosed from history, black-and-white images become ritual objects that shimmer and sparkle, full of the potential for liveliness — or at least sound and movement — once again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989198\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/2_Mildred-Howard-Untitled-1975.-Photo-collage-and-screen-print-on-paper.-Courtesy-of-The-Mildred-Howard-Archive-The-Bancroft-Library-University-of-California-Berkeley_Side1-1024x436.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"image of Black woman collaged onto $100 bill\" width=\"1024\" height=\"436\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989198\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/2_Mildred-Howard-Untitled-1975.-Photo-collage-and-screen-print-on-paper.-Courtesy-of-The-Mildred-Howard-Archive-The-Bancroft-Library-University-of-California-Berkeley_Side1-1024x436.jpg.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/2_Mildred-Howard-Untitled-1975.-Photo-collage-and-screen-print-on-paper.-Courtesy-of-The-Mildred-Howard-Archive-The-Bancroft-Library-University-of-California-Berkeley_Side1-1024x436.jpg-160x68.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/2_Mildred-Howard-Untitled-1975.-Photo-collage-and-screen-print-on-paper.-Courtesy-of-The-Mildred-Howard-Archive-The-Bancroft-Library-University-of-California-Berkeley_Side1-1024x436.jpg-768x327.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mildred Howard, ‘Untitled,’ 1975; Photo collage and screen print on paper. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of The Mildred Howard Archive, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Mildred Howard, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://museumca.org/on-view/mildred-howard-poetics-of-memory/\">Poetics of Memory\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 12–Oct. 11, 2026\u003cbr>\nOakland Museum of California\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It seems impossible that this is the first major museum exhibition for local luminary \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13965899/mildred-howard-collaborating-with-the-muses-part-one\">Mildred Howard\u003c/a>. And at the same time, thank goodness Howard and us — the current residents of the Bay Area — are here for this! Over the past five decades, Howard has moved between mediums (collage, found-object sculptures, installations, public art), creating a lyrical and materially inventive body of work. Even when artworks come from very personal sources, like a rediscovered 8mm film she shot as a teenager, Howard elegantly abstracts and extrapolates, pulling together both far-reaching histories and present-day realities. Current contender for show of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989217\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Running_Fence_Jean-Claude-Christo.jpg\" alt=\"A tall fence made of white fabric snakes across arid farmland hills\" width=\"1200\" height=\"875\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989217\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Running_Fence_Jean-Claude-Christo.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Running_Fence_Jean-Claude-Christo-160x117.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Running_Fence_Jean-Claude-Christo-768x560.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘Running Fence’ spanned more than 20 miles across Sonoma and Marin Counties — and was on view for just two weeks. \u003ccite>(Jean-Claude/Courtesy Museum of Sonoma County)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Christo and Jeanne-Claude, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://museumsc.org/upcoming-exhibitions/\">Running Fence at 50 Years\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 27–Nov. 8, 2026\u003cbr>\nMuseum of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The installation is now legendary: the husband-and-wife duo, who had previously wrapped art institutions and monuments, and covered a million square feet of the Australian coast in fabric, worked for four years to erect a 24.5-mile-long fabric fence across the hills of Sonoma and Marin. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It took 18 public hearings, three sessions of the Superior Courts of California, a 450-page environmental impact report and the permission of 59 ranchers. (Much of this often-contentious process is documented in the fantastic Maysles brothers’ documentary \u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.criterionchannel.com/running-fence\">Running Fence\u003c/a>\u003c/i>.) Finally, in 1976, the graceful, undulating, white strip of demarcation was installed. It remained on view for just 14 days. The Museum of Sonoma County transports visitors back to this monumental and ephemeral undertaking. And if it all seems like just yesterday, they’re \u003ca href=\"https://form.jotform.com/260627520652151\">currently soliciting\u003c/a> firsthand accounts!\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980309\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000.jpg\" alt=\"crowd seated on outdoor steps watching electronic music performance\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980309\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Spring-Open-House_2025_Photo-by-Tom-Ide_2000-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A performance at the Spring Open House 2025 at Headlands Center for the Arts. \u003ccite>(Tom Idle)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Residency open houses\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"https://www.headlands.org/event/summer-open-house-2026/\">Summer Open House\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>July 19, 12–5 p.m.\u003cbr>\nHeadlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"https://www.winslowhouseproject.org/visit-1/january-25-en2pw-bkf7d-wbwya-mfwal\">July 2026 Open House\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>July 26, 3–7 p.m.\u003cbr>\nWinslow House Project, Vallejo\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As much as art benefits from a formal presentation within white walls, there’s something extra special about glimpsing in-progress work at the site of its making. Two local residencies offer opportunities to tour their grounds (one a former military site in the Marin Headlands, the other a grand, historic farmhouse in the heart of Vallejo) and mingle with artists in residence. Expect screenings, performances, tasty foodstuffs and time well spent. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989240\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000.jpg\" alt=\"a spread of socket wrenches arranged in an arc\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989240\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Marcel-Pardo-Ariza-01_2000-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marcel Pardo Ariza, inspiration image from ‘Las Frutas del Labor,’ 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy the artist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Marcel Pardo Ariza, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://bampfa.org/program/art-wall-marcel-pardo-ariza-las-frutas-del-labor\">Las Frutas del Labor\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Aug. 5, 2026–July 11, 2027\u003cbr>\nBerkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s been 10 years since BAMPFA moved to its Center Street location, and one of the enduring benefits of this site (in addition to easy BART access, red stairwells and great programming), is the museum’s Art Wall. The 63-foot-wide space has hosted \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13839094/barbara-stauffacher-solomon-bampfa-art-wall\">urgent statements\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://bampfa.org/program/art-wall-stephanie-syjuco-present-tense-roll-call\">pointed investigations\u003c/a> and “murals” that stretch \u003ca href=\"https://bampfa.org/program/art-wall-terri-friedman\">well beyond\u003c/a> paint on drywall. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next installation, an homage to art handlers, comes from Oakland artist \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13960325/all-the-nights-we-got-to-dance-is-a-tribute-to-queer-nightlife-in-sf\">Marcel Pardo Ariza\u003c/a>. Together with Ambrose Trataris, Ariza is co-founder of \u003ca href=\"https://www.arthandlxrs.com/\">Arthandlxrs*\u003c/a>, an organization and publication that advocates for marginalized communities within the profession — an often-invisible but vitally important role in the presentation and appreciation of art. Expect some meta-moments; I’m sure BAMPFA art handlers will have their hands (literally) in the mix.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "oakland-boxing-thomas-mcelroy-lightnings-gym-documentary",
"title": "With His Mother’s Support, A Young Oakland Boxer Carries on The Town's Deep Legacy",
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"headTitle": "With His Mother’s Support, A Young Oakland Boxer Carries on The Town’s Deep Legacy | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>After \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/oakland-lightning-boxing-car-crash/4006888/\">a car smashed through the front doors\u003c/a> of Lightning’s Boxing Club in East Oakland this past New Year’s Eve, the young fighters who’d found sanctuary at the facility went looking for a new home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That explains why there’s currently a boxing ring inside downtown Oakland’s landmark nightclub \u003ca href=\"https://geoffreyslive.com/\">Geoffery’s Inner Circle\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Up two flights of stairs, past framed images of superstars who’ve performed on the Geoffrey’s stage, there’s all the amenities of a boxing gym. Punching bags suspended from the ceiling. Weights stacked near a bench press.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a recent visit, a boxer jumps rope in the mirror on the far side, while another gets lessons from the gym’s owner, coach Kris “Lightning” Lopez. In the center of the room is a traditional boxing ring, and shadowboxing in the middle of it is a determined young man named Thomas McElroy Jr.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989346\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989346 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189.jpg\" alt=\"A young African American man shadowboxing in a boxing ring. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. and his friends train daily in downtown Oakland. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A nationally top-ranked amateur fighter with medal-wining bouts behind him and miles of potential in front of him, McElroy Jr. and his circle of boxing friends represent the next wave of boxers carrying the baton for the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His story, along with other rising fighters, is illuminated in the new four-part documentary series \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sonsofthesweetscience.com/\">Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of great fighters from this gym, and all around Oakland,” McElroy Jr. tells me. At 19 years old, he’s fully aware of the legacy of this soil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Retired Olympic gold medalist \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/281958\">Andre Ward\u003c/a> and current World Boxing Organization welterweight champion \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/741718\">Devin Haney\u003c/a> both started in the Town. Notable fighters like \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/100759\">Bilal Mahasin\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/873678\">Amari Jones\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/853206\">Anthony Garnica\u003c/a> learned the ropes here, as did \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/048243\">Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/25178\">Juaquin “Killer” Gallardo\u003c/a>, a 1996 U.S. Olympic team alternate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first African American fighter to win the Light Heavyweight title, \u003ca href=\"https://www.britishvintageboxing.com/blogs/news/john-henry-lewis-sensationally-humble\">John Henry Lewis\u003c/a>, spent his adult years in the East Bay, running a gym with his brothers. (He was also the father of \u003ca href=\"https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/joan-tarika-lewis\">Joan Tarika Lewis\u003c/a>, the first woman to join the Black Panther Party.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reflecting on the Town’s lineage, McElroy says, “I’m just adding the cherry on top.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989368\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989368 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white image of a young African American man wearing multiple medals around his neck. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1303\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-768x500.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-1536x1001.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. has accomplished a lot as an amateur fighter. Now, he’s looking to turn pro. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Formerly ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 143-pound weight class, McElroy recently moved up to the 154-pound division, where he’s ranked No. 6. Fresh from winning an exhibition fight by unanimous decision in Las Vegas this past weekend, McElroy Jr. is preparing for the Junior Olympics in June — which he predicts will be his last tournament before turning pro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And with that, he’ll start the next chapter of a story he started as a baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have a picture of him with his big old boxing gloves on,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/renee_electronika/\">Renée Moncada-McElroy\u003c/a>. “He’s literally been doing this all his life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989355\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989355 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738.jpg\" alt=\"An African American toddler wearing boxing gloves and kicking a punching bag. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">As a toddler, Thomas McElroy Jr. put on his first pair of boxing gloves — and he hasn’t stopped fighting since. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘It’s not just about boxing’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Moncada-McElroy, McElroy Jr.’s mother, is also the creator of the documentary series \u003cem>Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/em>; the latest production credit on her already stacked résumé.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She’s worked as a producer for the reality show \u003cem>Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce\u003c/em> and the nature show \u003cem>Man vs. Fish\u003c/em>. She also directed on the series \u003cem>Chain Gang Girls\u003c/em> and was the force behind a documentary about Oakland rap legend Too Short, \u003cem>Life Is: The Life and Times of Todd Shaw\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this one is different.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not just about boxing,” says Moncada-McElroy, explaining her goal to show the ring as a rite of passage. “Coming of age under pressure,” as she calls it, “\u003cem>and\u003c/em> it’s connected to real-world stakes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989364\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989364 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242.jpg\" alt=\"A young African American man wears boxing gloves as he poses for a photo next to his mother and father. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. and his parents, Renée Moncada-McElroy and Thomas McElroy.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The series was filmed around 2021, in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and numerous other high-profile extrajudicial murders of Black people. “The gym was a safe space for them during that time,” says the filmmaker, recognizing the pressure that her son and his friends faced as teenage Black men in America.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She credits coaches Kris Lopez and Abe Morones for creating a place for young people to fully express themselves. “The gyms are social service agencies,” asserts Moncada-McElroy. “They’re an alternative to the streets for a lot of these boys.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even in finding a bit of escape, the influence of the Town isn’t far behind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Oakland style of boxing,” says coach Kris Lopez, “is an intellectual style of boxing.” The best fighters from the region, he says, have a great understanding of distance, and of keeping their front guard hand up at a 45-degree angle. They also make tremendous use of the jab.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a balanced style that doesn’t rely on power punching, but instead focuses on rhythm, good fundamentals, sharp lines and timing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re not going to catch an Oakland fighter sitting in the shell too long,” says Lopez. “They’re going to dictate the fight with the jab and be more like a sniper, landing clean shots.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989365\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1616px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989365 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183.jpg\" alt=\"A coach and young boxer secure gloves and get ready to train. \" width=\"1616\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183.jpg 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Kris “Lightning” Lopez secures the gloves on a young boxer’s hands before a training session. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to the technical aspects of the sport, the community safety net and coming-of-age experience, the series centers fatherhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rattling off a list of great boxers, male and female, Moncada-McElroy notes how deeply their fathers (or father figures) were involved in their upbringing. Thomas McElroy Jr. is no different.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A mother’s love, a father’s guidance\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“I love that my son is achieving all that he wants to achieve so far in boxing,” says the elder Thomas McElroy. “There’s so much you can learn from boxing that doesn’t have anything to do with punching and not getting punched.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy, as one half of the acclaimed music production team \u003ca href=\"https://www.allmusic.com/artist/thomas-mcelroy-mn0000488357#songs\">Foster and McElroy\u003c/a>, has produced hits for legendary groups En Vogue and Tony! Toni! Toné!, as well as Timex Social Club and Club Nouveau.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s also a longtime Muay Thai kickboxer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989372 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733.jpg\" alt=\"A boy stands in a boxing ring, as his father stands outside of the ring looking on in admiration. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"2507\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-160x201.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-768x963.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-1225x1536.jpg 1225w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-1634x2048.jpg 1634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. has been training with his father all his life. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Boxing is a beautiful art, it’s a craft,” says McElroy, describing the lessons his son is gleaning in the ring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It takes a certain type of person to want to become a boxer, McElroy says. Most folks avoid conflict. “They don’t want to get in the ring and fight, they’d rather run,” he says. “And then some people run toward the flame, you know? They don’t mind getting burned. They don’t mind getting heated up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy says, “They just add to the flame when they get there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy Jr. maintains a healthy relationship with his father, somebody he says he can talk to any time. “He’s a very cool dude,” adds the young boxer, referring to him as a coach, trainer and an all-around person in his corner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I look at my dad,” McElroy Jr. says, “as more than just a father.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Oakland boxing is different\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The importance of family support, the intricate mindset of a young boxer and the texture of the Town are all prominent in the first episode of \u003cem>Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In one scene, fathers deescalate a potentially bad situation where a boxer doesn’t have proper equipment. In another brief clip, Moncada-McElroy holds her son close as he processes emotions after a rough fight. And in yet another scene, McElroy Jr. and his friends smile wide as they jump into a swimming pool, evidence that they retain their childlike joy in the midst of constantly training for battle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1616px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989370 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220.jpg\" alt=\"A silhouette of a boxer swinging at a suspended weight bag.\" width=\"1616\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220.jpg 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In addition to boxing, Thomas McElroy Jr. is a visual artist, musician and craftsman. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By fusing narrative storytelling with a very intentional soundtrack, Moncada-McElroy guides the viewers through the emotions that come with fighting — both inside and outside the ring. In the end, for an activity that involves getting punched in the face, she creates a language that expresses the \u003cem>poetry\u003c/em> of the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s strategy, it’s precision, timing and control,” she says. “And so I wanted to make sure that I used certain tools or certain formats to communicate the language that boxing has.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moncada-McElroy breaks that language down into a bit of a paradox, one that parallels the knotty nature of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s complicated,” she says, comparing the Town to the sport. “You have opportunities, but you also have limitations. There’s community, but there’s also isolation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within Oakland’s style of boxing, she sees a deeper dichotomy: “There’s a sort of lightheartedness,” Moncada-McElroy says of the boxers she watches, “but they do take care of business when they get in the ring … They may not start it, but they’re gonna finish it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even the existential questions that the boxing gym currently faces illustrate a duality. It’s unfortunate that a stolen car busted through the gym’s front wall six months ago. It’s also truly beautiful that a storied nightclub and cultural hub would open up its space and allow its young athletes to continue to grow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It turns out that the secrets to being an incredible city and a respected fighter are one and the same: support from community, a bit of conflict, and a confident jab. And balance — always maintain your balance.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The first episode of ‘Sons of the Sweet Science’ is available to watch now. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sonsofthesweetscience.com/\">Check the series site for upcoming episodes and more information\u003c/a>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/oakland-lightning-boxing-car-crash/4006888/\">a car smashed through the front doors\u003c/a> of Lightning’s Boxing Club in East Oakland this past New Year’s Eve, the young fighters who’d found sanctuary at the facility went looking for a new home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That explains why there’s currently a boxing ring inside downtown Oakland’s landmark nightclub \u003ca href=\"https://geoffreyslive.com/\">Geoffery’s Inner Circle\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Up two flights of stairs, past framed images of superstars who’ve performed on the Geoffrey’s stage, there’s all the amenities of a boxing gym. Punching bags suspended from the ceiling. Weights stacked near a bench press.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a recent visit, a boxer jumps rope in the mirror on the far side, while another gets lessons from the gym’s owner, coach Kris “Lightning” Lopez. In the center of the room is a traditional boxing ring, and shadowboxing in the middle of it is a determined young man named Thomas McElroy Jr.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989346\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989346 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189.jpg\" alt=\"A young African American man shadowboxing in a boxing ring. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01189-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. and his friends train daily in downtown Oakland. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A nationally top-ranked amateur fighter with medal-wining bouts behind him and miles of potential in front of him, McElroy Jr. and his circle of boxing friends represent the next wave of boxers carrying the baton for the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His story, along with other rising fighters, is illuminated in the new four-part documentary series \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sonsofthesweetscience.com/\">Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of great fighters from this gym, and all around Oakland,” McElroy Jr. tells me. At 19 years old, he’s fully aware of the legacy of this soil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Retired Olympic gold medalist \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/281958\">Andre Ward\u003c/a> and current World Boxing Organization welterweight champion \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/741718\">Devin Haney\u003c/a> both started in the Town. Notable fighters like \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/100759\">Bilal Mahasin\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/873678\">Amari Jones\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/853206\">Anthony Garnica\u003c/a> learned the ropes here, as did \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/048243\">Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/25178\">Juaquin “Killer” Gallardo\u003c/a>, a 1996 U.S. Olympic team alternate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first African American fighter to win the Light Heavyweight title, \u003ca href=\"https://www.britishvintageboxing.com/blogs/news/john-henry-lewis-sensationally-humble\">John Henry Lewis\u003c/a>, spent his adult years in the East Bay, running a gym with his brothers. (He was also the father of \u003ca href=\"https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/joan-tarika-lewis\">Joan Tarika Lewis\u003c/a>, the first woman to join the Black Panther Party.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reflecting on the Town’s lineage, McElroy says, “I’m just adding the cherry on top.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989368\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989368 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white image of a young African American man wearing multiple medals around his neck. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1303\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-768x500.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/image1-1536x1001.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. has accomplished a lot as an amateur fighter. Now, he’s looking to turn pro. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Formerly ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 143-pound weight class, McElroy recently moved up to the 154-pound division, where he’s ranked No. 6. Fresh from winning an exhibition fight by unanimous decision in Las Vegas this past weekend, McElroy Jr. is preparing for the Junior Olympics in June — which he predicts will be his last tournament before turning pro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And with that, he’ll start the next chapter of a story he started as a baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have a picture of him with his big old boxing gloves on,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/renee_electronika/\">Renée Moncada-McElroy\u003c/a>. “He’s literally been doing this all his life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989355\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989355 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738.jpg\" alt=\"An African American toddler wearing boxing gloves and kicking a punching bag. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3738-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">As a toddler, Thomas McElroy Jr. put on his first pair of boxing gloves — and he hasn’t stopped fighting since. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘It’s not just about boxing’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Moncada-McElroy, McElroy Jr.’s mother, is also the creator of the documentary series \u003cem>Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/em>; the latest production credit on her already stacked résumé.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She’s worked as a producer for the reality show \u003cem>Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce\u003c/em> and the nature show \u003cem>Man vs. Fish\u003c/em>. She also directed on the series \u003cem>Chain Gang Girls\u003c/em> and was the force behind a documentary about Oakland rap legend Too Short, \u003cem>Life Is: The Life and Times of Todd Shaw\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this one is different.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not just about boxing,” says Moncada-McElroy, explaining her goal to show the ring as a rite of passage. “Coming of age under pressure,” as she calls it, “\u003cem>and\u003c/em> it’s connected to real-world stakes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989364\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989364 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242.jpg\" alt=\"A young African American man wears boxing gloves as he poses for a photo next to his mother and father. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01242-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. and his parents, Renée Moncada-McElroy and Thomas McElroy.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The series was filmed around 2021, in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and numerous other high-profile extrajudicial murders of Black people. “The gym was a safe space for them during that time,” says the filmmaker, recognizing the pressure that her son and his friends faced as teenage Black men in America.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She credits coaches Kris Lopez and Abe Morones for creating a place for young people to fully express themselves. “The gyms are social service agencies,” asserts Moncada-McElroy. “They’re an alternative to the streets for a lot of these boys.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even in finding a bit of escape, the influence of the Town isn’t far behind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Oakland style of boxing,” says coach Kris Lopez, “is an intellectual style of boxing.” The best fighters from the region, he says, have a great understanding of distance, and of keeping their front guard hand up at a 45-degree angle. They also make tremendous use of the jab.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a balanced style that doesn’t rely on power punching, but instead focuses on rhythm, good fundamentals, sharp lines and timing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re not going to catch an Oakland fighter sitting in the shell too long,” says Lopez. “They’re going to dictate the fight with the jab and be more like a sniper, landing clean shots.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989365\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1616px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989365 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183.jpg\" alt=\"A coach and young boxer secure gloves and get ready to train. \" width=\"1616\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183.jpg 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01183-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Coach Kris “Lightning” Lopez secures the gloves on a young boxer’s hands before a training session. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to the technical aspects of the sport, the community safety net and coming-of-age experience, the series centers fatherhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rattling off a list of great boxers, male and female, Moncada-McElroy notes how deeply their fathers (or father figures) were involved in their upbringing. Thomas McElroy Jr. is no different.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A mother’s love, a father’s guidance\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“I love that my son is achieving all that he wants to achieve so far in boxing,” says the elder Thomas McElroy. “There’s so much you can learn from boxing that doesn’t have anything to do with punching and not getting punched.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy, as one half of the acclaimed music production team \u003ca href=\"https://www.allmusic.com/artist/thomas-mcelroy-mn0000488357#songs\">Foster and McElroy\u003c/a>, has produced hits for legendary groups En Vogue and Tony! Toni! Toné!, as well as Timex Social Club and Club Nouveau.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s also a longtime Muay Thai kickboxer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989372 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733.jpg\" alt=\"A boy stands in a boxing ring, as his father stands outside of the ring looking on in admiration. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"2507\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-160x201.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-768x963.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-1225x1536.jpg 1225w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/IMG_3733-1634x2048.jpg 1634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas McElroy Jr. has been training with his father all his life. \u003ccite>(Renée Moncada-McElroy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Boxing is a beautiful art, it’s a craft,” says McElroy, describing the lessons his son is gleaning in the ring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It takes a certain type of person to want to become a boxer, McElroy says. Most folks avoid conflict. “They don’t want to get in the ring and fight, they’d rather run,” he says. “And then some people run toward the flame, you know? They don’t mind getting burned. They don’t mind getting heated up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy says, “They just add to the flame when they get there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McElroy Jr. maintains a healthy relationship with his father, somebody he says he can talk to any time. “He’s a very cool dude,” adds the young boxer, referring to him as a coach, trainer and an all-around person in his corner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I look at my dad,” McElroy Jr. says, “as more than just a father.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Oakland boxing is different\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The importance of family support, the intricate mindset of a young boxer and the texture of the Town are all prominent in the first episode of \u003cem>Sons of the Sweet Science\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In one scene, fathers deescalate a potentially bad situation where a boxer doesn’t have proper equipment. In another brief clip, Moncada-McElroy holds her son close as he processes emotions after a rough fight. And in yet another scene, McElroy Jr. and his friends smile wide as they jump into a swimming pool, evidence that they retain their childlike joy in the midst of constantly training for battle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1616px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989370 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220.jpg\" alt=\"A silhouette of a boxer swinging at a suspended weight bag.\" width=\"1616\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220.jpg 1616w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/DSC01220-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1616px) 100vw, 1616px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In addition to boxing, Thomas McElroy Jr. is a visual artist, musician and craftsman. \u003ccite>(Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By fusing narrative storytelling with a very intentional soundtrack, Moncada-McElroy guides the viewers through the emotions that come with fighting — both inside and outside the ring. In the end, for an activity that involves getting punched in the face, she creates a language that expresses the \u003cem>poetry\u003c/em> of the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s strategy, it’s precision, timing and control,” she says. “And so I wanted to make sure that I used certain tools or certain formats to communicate the language that boxing has.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moncada-McElroy breaks that language down into a bit of a paradox, one that parallels the knotty nature of Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s complicated,” she says, comparing the Town to the sport. “You have opportunities, but you also have limitations. There’s community, but there’s also isolation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within Oakland’s style of boxing, she sees a deeper dichotomy: “There’s a sort of lightheartedness,” Moncada-McElroy says of the boxers she watches, “but they do take care of business when they get in the ring … They may not start it, but they’re gonna finish it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even the existential questions that the boxing gym currently faces illustrate a duality. It’s unfortunate that a stolen car busted through the gym’s front wall six months ago. It’s also truly beautiful that a storied nightclub and cultural hub would open up its space and allow its young athletes to continue to grow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It turns out that the secrets to being an incredible city and a respected fighter are one and the same: support from community, a bit of conflict, and a confident jab. And balance — always maintain your balance.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The first episode of ‘Sons of the Sweet Science’ is available to watch now. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sonsofthesweetscience.com/\">Check the series site for upcoming episodes and more information\u003c/a>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "best-cheap-affordable-restaurant-meals-bay-area-oakland-sf",
"title": "25 Great Bay Area Meals for $12 or Less",
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"headTitle": "25 Great Bay Area Meals for $12 or Less | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ci>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">full series here\u003c/a>.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t need to sit down at one of the Bay Area’s posh and trendy temples of fine dining to know that eating out in the year 2026 is too damn expensive. These days, even the most generic fast food might cost $50 or $60 to feed a family of four, and buying groceries to cook at home is an increasingly fraught and overwhelming expense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thankfully, the high-end California cuisine restaurant isn’t the \u003ci>only\u003c/i> hallmark of the Bay Area food scene — there’s also the neighborhood taco truck, noodle counter, bánh mì shop and casual takeout dim sum deli. In every city in the Bay, these essential restaurants are still feeding the people, often at a shockingly inexpensive price point. You just need to know which ones are actually delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here, then, is my guide to eating well on a budget: 25 of my favorite affordable Bay Area restaurants where you can get a full, satisfying meal for $12 or less.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsinSanFrancisco\">Cheap eats in San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsintheSouthBayandPeninsula\">Cheap eats in the South Bay and Peninsula\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsintheNorthBay\">Cheap eats in the North Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch1>\u003cb>EAST BAY\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989352\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989352\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast sandwich with sausage, scrambled egg and queso fresco.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pan con todo with Guatemalan sausage at Universal Bakery, which has locations in San Pablo, San Francisco and Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Universal Bakery\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1946 23rd St., San Pablo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This bustling Guatemalan bakery is the king of the delicious, inexpensive breakfast sandwich, serving at least seven different varieties of its pan con todo. The baseline sandwich ($6.55) comes with fluffy scrambled eggs, refried beans, crema and a wedge of fresh cheese — the staples of a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, all piled onto a good, crusty French roll. My favorite version adds well-charred longaniza (Guatemalan pork sausage) to the mix; others feature sweet plantains or carne asada. The bakery has additional locations in \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Universal+Bakery+on+Mission/@37.741405,-122.4228077,3291m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f7e5d405c2f8b:0xb24e30761070f266!8m2!3d37.741405!4d-122.4228077!16s%2Fg%2F1vlqqfmk?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">San Francisco’s Mission District\u003c/a> and in \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Universal+Bakery+on+Geneva/@37.7070028,-122.4146378,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f7ec563977c09:0x63c23ad1f3300324!8m2!3d37.7070028!4d-122.4146378!16s%2Fg%2F11bx9t7vrz?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Daly City\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989373\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989373\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Seared fish fillet on a bed of noodles, with grilled vegetables on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even the most expensive items on the menu at Aqua Terra, like this seared branzino, only cost $16. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Aqua Terra Grill at Contra Costa College\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2600 Mission Bell Dr. SAB-130, San Pablo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located on the Contra Costa College campus, \u003ca href=\"https://linktr.ee/ccc_order?fbclid=IwY2xjawRlx6JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEWHBmMlhCam1JYk1ZTjdRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkJtQLftRhaphc9HVpBM1Pr9EdNirfRNdN9VR35XQrQKyp3Rsl1ce1jrD45w_aem_5GeBZRKVmdFI7Kideqc3EA\">Aqua Terra\u003c/a> functions as a training facility for students in the school’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ccc_culinaryacademy\">culinary academy\u003c/a>, but it it’s also fully open to the public for lunch service, three days a week (Tuesday–Thursday). The bonus with getting a meal prepared and served by students still learning their trade is that it’s an extraordinary value — say, a cool $9 for braised beef shank ravioli or a portobello focaccia sandwich with fries. (It’s just $16 to splurge on grilled branzino with garlic noodles.) The food can be a little uneven, with a throwback-to-’90s-New-American vibe. But it’s a solid meal — slightly fancy, even! — with sweet, earnest service for fast food prices. Note: the restaurant follows the school calendar, which means it’s already wrapping up for the semester. The last hurrah is a big Mother’s Day buffet on May 12–13; \u003ca href=\"https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=SmlUw-XMn0iyo6Kp0m4MP3XtfkM2ShJPnQ6gSMwaMQJUNE5WMTdVR05WQldHUTJDNEFWUEFKM1M2MC4u&route=shorturl\">reservations\u003c/a> are highly recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989374\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989374\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"Whole grilled chicken in a takeout container, with rice, refried beans and various salsas on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The whole chicken meal at Richmond’s La Selva is an affordable way to feed the whole family. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>La Selva Taqueria\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1049 23rd St., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The house specialty at this rainforest-themed taqueria near the end of \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/a-richmond-taco-crawl-2-1/\">Richmond’s 23rd Street taco corridor\u003c/a> is pollo al carbon — whole spatchcocked chickens slow-grilled over charcoal until the skin is deeply charred and the flesh is smoky, tender and delicious. You can get your chicken either on tacos or in a burrito, but my preference is the $30 family meal, which comes with a whole bird, tortillas, rice, refried beans, chips and as many tubs of salsa as you want from the restaurant’s excellent serve-yourself salsa bar. It’s enough to feed my family of four with leftovers — just $7.50 per person.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Grand Cafe\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4250 Macdonald Ave., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This under-the-radar Hong Kong cafe tucked inside a Target shopping plaza isn’t notable for any single standout dish, but instead for its overall dedication to affordability: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13986256/cheap-cantonese-restaurant-richmond-east-bay-grand-cafe-dim-sum-claypot-rice\">Nothing on the menu costs more than $10.75\u003c/a>, and most dishes come with free soy milk and a bowl of hot soup on the side. My favorite is the claypot rice with spare ribs and preserved sausage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13923368\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13923368\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior.jpg\" alt=\"Exterior of the Antojitos Guatemaltecos restaurant with a yellow facade and a handful of outdoor tables on the sidewalk.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tamales are the staple dish at Antojitos Guatemaltecos in El Cerrito. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Antojitos Guatemaltecos\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>11252 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tamales are the staple dish at this \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923359/antojitos-guatemaltecos-guatemalan-restaurant-el-cerrito-tamales-pollo-campero\">homestyle Guatemalan restaurant\u003c/a> — and at $5 a pop, they’re also its most affordable offering. Two of these, mixed and matched between about a half-dozen available varieties, make for a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner. I especially love the wonderfully jiggly and custard-like Guatemalan-style corn-masa tamales and the harder-to-find \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13913355/guatemalan-rice-tamales-antojitos-guatemaltecos-richmond\">rice tamales\u003c/a>, which are like a soupy Central American cousin to Chinese zongzi. The restaurant has a great deal on its extraordinarily flavorful \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-14/pollo-campero-central-america-los-angeles\">Pollo Campero–style\u003c/a> fried chicken — a whole leg, fries and a handmade tortilla for $11.95.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Top Dog\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2534 Durant Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The original, and only remaining, location of Top Dog is a Berkeley \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13954597/top-dog-late-night-hot-dogs-berkeley-midnight-diners\">late-night institution\u003c/a> for good reason. The hot dogs, served on the shop’s signature toasty French rolls, are simply the best. One of them makes for a solid lunch (the garlic frankfurter is my favorite); two in one sitting feels like a downright feast. Note well: Most of the dogs are priced at $4.75, but the shop has a $5 credit card minimum. If you don’t feel like buying a soda, the mild, creamy potato salad is a nice add-on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989377\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989377\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Dark red fava bean stew, with two crusty rolls on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The shihan ful at Alem’s Coffee in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Alem’s Coffee\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>5353 Claremont Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Strictly speaking, my favorite dishes at this classic Eritrean cafe are \u003ci>just \u003c/i>above this roundup’s $12 threshold — the oniony egg frittata ($12.50) and the spice-redolent fava bean stew known as shihan ful ($13), both served with excellent crusty bread for dipping. On a hot day, though, it’s tough to beat the value on the $9 umbotito, a quirky, refreshing potato sandwich of sorts — slices of cold, al dente boiled potato topped with lettuce, tomatoes and onions in a light vinaigrette. The cafe’s location, across from the Oakland DMV parking lot, has made it the one bright spot in many otherwise dreary mornings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989378\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989378\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Sticky rice, sausage balls and fried egg on a metal tray.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The $10 Lao sausage rice plate at the newly opened Souk Savanh 2.0 in Oakland. The fried egg is a $2 add-on. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Soukh Savanh 2.0\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1707 Telegraph Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently reborn in a prime Uptown location, the new, counter-service incarnation of this \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/paradise-deferred-2-1/\">much-loved Lao-Thai restaurant\u003c/a> has one of the most affordable menus in the neighborhood. The headliner is the selection of $10 rice plates, which are available all day long. I especially love the fermented Lao sausage, which Souk Savanh serves as crisp-edged meatballs — absurdly delicious when dunked in a runny-yolked fried egg (a $2 add-on); dipped in funky-sweet jeow som; and then scooped up, Lao-style, with a clump of sticky rice. Pro tip: For a near-perfect meal, two diners can split one rice plate and an order of nam khao (crispy rice ball salad) — one of the best versions in the Bay — for about $12 a person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989379\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989379\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding what's left of a banh mi sandwich with ground pork and egg.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of a half-eaten #13 meatball and egg bánh mì from Banh Mi Ba Le. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Banh Mi Ba Le\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1909 International Blvd., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ba Le’s #13 meatball-and-egg bánh mì shot to the top of my bánh mì rankings the first time I tried it, some 15 years ago — just an exquisite combination of juicy, peppery ground pork; a jammy-yolked fried egg; a big smear of buttery Vietnamese mayo; and both fresh and pickled vegetables. It’s still my favorite to this day. The only things that have changed is that the shop now keeps super-limited hours (Friday–Sunday only) and no longer has a dine-in area. The prices have crept up too, but at $6.30 a pop for most sandwiches on the menu ($7.25 for the #13), it’s still as good a bang for your buck as you can find in the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989380\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989380\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Two tacos, radishes, grilled onions and nopales on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A two-taco plate at Taqueria El Paisa in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Taqueria El Paisa\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4610 International Blvd., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beauty of Fruitvale is that you can get amazing, inexpensive tacos up and down International Boulevard, but this no-frills taqueria is the \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/taqueria-el-paisa-at-com-serves-the-best-tacos-in-town-2-1/\">best of the best\u003c/a>. Favorites include the decadent tripa (a divine combination of soft, squishy and crunchy textures) and the exquisitely tender, juicy suadero. These days, El Paisa tacos will run you $4.50 a pop — by no means the cheapest in the neighborhood — but they’re so rich and meaty that a two-taco lunch is usually all I want. A three-taco lunch? That’s cause for celebration (and maybe a short nap).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsinSanFrancisco\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>SAN FRANCISCO\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>Freddie’s Sandwiches\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>300 Francisco St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freddie’s is the very definition of the low-key neighborhood deli that’s always there when you need it. I got lunch here at least once a week when I worked near North Beach, alternating between the Italian combo and the egg salad, both excellent, always on Dutch Crunch. Most sandwiches are priced at $10.95 for the small (but generously stuffed) 6-inch size — I never wanted anything bigger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989385\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"The interior of a Chinese bakery, with a fully stocked display case and old-fashioned signage visible.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lung Fung Bakery serves some of the best baked pork buns and egg custard tarts in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Lung Fung Bakery\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1823 Clement St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chinese bakeries are some of the best places to cobble together an S-tier struggle meal — to, for instance, drop $5 on a couple of barbecue pork buns and fill your daily meat and carb allowance. At Lung Fung in the Outer Richmond, the baked char siu buns aren’t just inexpensive, at $2.50 apiece; they’re also my very favorite version of this treat — beautifully golden-brown with a super-lush and meaty filling. If you’ve got a couple bucks to spare on dessert, Lung Fung’s egg custard tarts ($2.38) are also some of the best around. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989390\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989390\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"Takeout containers of soba and curry chicken against a concrete backdrop.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The curry chicken special and a half order of cold soba from Yo Yo’s. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Yo Yo’s\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>318 Pacific Ave., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This tiny, utterly unpretentious Japanese takeout shop feels like a miracle in the Financial District. Udon for $9? Six-piece unagi rolls for $3.25? Almost everything on the menu available as a (still-substantial) half portion? All in all, I’m hard-pressed to think of a more affordable lunch in the city. On days when I’m particularly cash-strapped, my go-to is the half order of cold soba ($5), which comes loaded with spinach, tofu puffs and crispy puffed rice, plus a refreshing hit of wasabi by request. But it’s hard to pass up on the curry chicken special ($12) when it’s available: two tender chicken legs, a hard-boiled egg and big chunks of carrot and potato in a spicy-sweet sauce that tastes more like home-cooked Thai massaman curry than your standard Japanese roux. It’s delicious, and enough food to stretch the leftovers into another meal. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989251\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989251\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Siu mai dumplings in a metal steamer.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beef siu mai dumplings at Good Mong Kok. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Good Mong Kok\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1039 Stockton St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s easy to understand why this popular takeout dim sum spot draws some of the longest lines in Chinatown: The shop sells a huge assortment of extremely tasty, conveniently portable buns and dumplings for bargain-basement prices. Most items are between $2 and $4, perfect for sampling a good mix. The steamed buns here are especially great: uncommonly juicy and savory pork-and-vegetable buns (three for $3.80) and, my favorite, the truly enormous big (or “combination”) chicken bun ($2.80), which comes jam-packed with thigh meat, shiitakes, preserved sausage and hard-boiled egg — a whole meal unto itself. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989392\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989392\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2.jpg\" alt=\"A bowl of beef noodles with Burmese tea leaf salad on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yuma’s beef noodles with an order of tea leaf salad on the side. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Yamo\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3406 18th St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This narrow, eight-seat Burmese noodle counter in the heart of the Mission seems almost too charming to be real, with its older proprietress working three hot woks at a time while her daughter greets the shop’s diverse cast of twenty- and thirtysomething regular customers by name. Oh, and every single item on the menu costs $9 or less. The headliner here is the house noodles ($9), a simple and satisfying oil-slicked stir-fry topped with crispy garlic and your protein of choice. But everything I’ve tried has been tasty: the blazing-hot, shatteringly crispy potato samusas ($5) and the tea leaf salad ($9), which has a wonderful zip of heat that cuts through the funk of the fermented tea. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989393\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989393\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A container of salmon poke and a side of white rice, shown on a park bench.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An order of shoyu salmon poke from Basa Seafood Express is best enjoyed on a nearby park bench. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Basa Seafood Express\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3064 24th St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This bare-bones Mission District seafood counter is a neighborhood staple for affordable sushi rolls, sashimi and fried seafood dishes. My go-to lunch order is the shoyu salmon poke ($8.50) with a small side of rice — the combination of raw fish, seasoned soy sauce and hot rice is such a simple, exquisite pleasure in the middle of the workday. Also great: the impeccably fried, poboy-adjacent soft-shell crab burger ($11.50). There’s no dine-in seating, so you can bring your food home or find a park bench a couple blocks away for a nice al fresco meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsintheSouthBayandPeninsula\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989395\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989395\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"To-go container of barbecue skewers over white rice.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Filipino BBQ skewers over rice from Fil-Am Cuisine in Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Fil-Am Cuisine\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>66 School St., Daly City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a perfect lunch, but two Filipino barbecue meat sticks over rice from Fil-Am Cuisine comes pretty close to my Platonic ideal — especially since it only costs $9.99. The sweet smell of the shop’s well-charred pork and chicken skewers ($3.75 each a la carte) is irresistible. Add a couple more to your order plus a large carton of pancit ($9), and you can feed the whole family. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989396\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989396\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A waffle and three chicken wings on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Three chicken wings and a Belgian waffle — one of the discounted daily specials at Keith’s Chicken & Waffles in Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Keith’s Chicken & Waffles\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>270 San Pedro Rd., Daly City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best thing about Keith’s is that it sells some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13979460/keiths-chicken-waffles-crunchiest-fried-chicken-daly-city-late-night\">crunchiest, most exceptionally well seasoned fried chicken\u003c/a> you can find in the Bay Area, along with several varieties of crisp-edged, airy-light waffles. The second-best thing? The prices are so reasonable that they put even fast food chicken chains like Popeyes and Raising Cane’s to shame. Combo meals, which come with a waffle or side dish, start at $12, and there’s always a daily special — say, three wings and a Belgian waffle — for around $10.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989261\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989261\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a salmon musubi.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The luscious salmon musubi from Takahashi Market in San Mateo. The 120-year-old market’s musubis are one of the Bay Area’s best lunch deals. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Takahashi Market\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>221 S. Claremont St., San Mateo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wonderfully varied assortment of musubis at this 120-year-old Japanese-Hawaiian market aren’t just one of the best lunch deals in town; they’re one of my favorite things to eat in the Bay Area, flat out. Just one of these hefty, seven-inch beauties will fill you up — the Spam musubi ($6.95) is a classic for good reason, but my personal favorite is the decadent, tobiko-topped salmon-and-crawfish musubi.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Taiwan Porridge\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>20956 Homestead Rd., Cupertino\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Taiwanese immigrants, this strip mall spot’s format is deeply nostalgic: a dazzling array of hot and cold dishes all meant to accompany big tureens of velvety sweet potato congee. Value-wise, the highlight is the $12.83 three-item lunch special (available until 4 p.m.), which puts the average Chinese takeout joint’s combo plate to shame with cozy, home-style options like cold lotus root salad, twice-cooked pork belly, anchovies stir-fried with peanuts, and loofah with scrambled eggs. If budget allows, you should absolutely pay an extra $1.83 to upgrade from regular steamed rice to congee — or better yet, get the four-item combo ($15.58) and split it with a friend. Taiwan Porridge also has locations in Milpitas and Fremont.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989256\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989256\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED.jpg\" alt='An Indian supermarket lit up at night. The sign above reads, \"Apni Mandi.\"' width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The exterior of Apni Mandi in Sunnyvale. The Indian market sells hot food 24/7. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Apni Mandi\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1111 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not only is the hot food counter at Sunnyvale’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13955884/sunnyvale-late-night-food-24-hour-indian-grocery-apni-mandi-apna-bazar\">24-hour Indian grocery store\u003c/a> open all day and night, its $8.99 vegetarian thali platter is one of best deals around — a three-compartment foil clamshell container crammed full of rice, onion salad and your choice of two curries (I especially love the paneer makhani and the fritter-studded kadhi pakora), with a couple rounds of chapati on the side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989400\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989400\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a small banh mi in a parking lot.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The option to order a budget-friendly half-size bánh mì at Duc Huong also allows diners to try multiple varieties. Pictured here is the grilled pork and egg bánh mì. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Duc Huong\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1020 Story Rd. Ste. C, San José\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My favorite South Bay bánh mì mini-chain is especially good for budget-minded diners because it offers a half-size sandwich option ($4.50 for most varieties), allowing lighter eaters to save some money — and giving heartier eaters the chance to sample two different sandwiches for the price of one. I love the classic #2 cold-cut combo the best, but the #8 (grilled pork topped with a fluffy egg omelette) is also pretty great, especially on garlic bread. Why not get both? Apart from its very busy original Story Road location, Duc Huong has \u003ca href=\"https://duchuongsandwiches.com/#locations\">three other shops\u003c/a> around San José, plus one in Sacramento.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsintheNorthBay\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>NORTH BAY\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>Guerneville Taco Truck\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>16632 Main St., Guerneville\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amidst all of Sonoma County’s frou-frou dining options, this taco truck — parked in a Safeway parking lot — is an oasis for locals and daytrippers looking for something more casual and inexpensive. Tacos are $3; the excellent (massive, totally shareable) breakfast burrito is $14. My favorite, the $12.50 fry-stuffed California burrito, has enough calories to keep you going all day. This is a must-stop for my family on our way to an Armstrong Woods hike, or on our way back from a day of Russian River Valley wine tasting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13907215\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13907215\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a flannel and hat tends to chicken on a grill on an overcast day\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">What a Chicken’s outdoor grill, seen here at the Santa Rosa Flea Market. \u003ccite>(Gabe Meline/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>What a Chicken\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>706 E. Washington St., Petaluma\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This gem of a pollo asado shop sits near the gateway to wine country, slinging hearty portions of its exceptionally juicy and crisp-skinned char-grilled chicken at a good value in one of the Bay Area’s most expensive regions. The prices especially work in your favor if you come with a crowd: My standard order is a half ($18.99) or whole chicken plate ($34.99), which comes with rice, salsa and piping-hot handmade tortillas — plenty of food to feed two or four adults, respectively, at under $10 per person. Pro tip: I always add one of the shop’s meaty, slow-cooked pork ribs ($4.99) to my order. It’s just as good as the chicken.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989401\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989401\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A pupusa on a white plate, with a small tub of curtido and a bowl of salsa on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of Pupuseria Blankita’s toasty, well-griddled pupusas. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Pupuseria Blankita\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>48 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two of Blankita’s toasty, well-griddled pupusas make for the ideal post–Marin Farmers Market lunch — say, the revuelta ($5.50), with its classic pork, bean and cheese filling, and maybe the green-flecked zucchini and cheese ($4.50), both topped with a generous heap of bright, crunchy curtido. To mix it up, sometimes I’ll order just one pupusa and add a gooey, sugar-dusted fried plantain empanada ($5) for dessert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Your guide to the best — and most affordable — taquerias, noodle counters and bánh mì shops in the Bay.",
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"title": "The Best Cheap Meals in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ci>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">full series here\u003c/a>.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t need to sit down at one of the Bay Area’s posh and trendy temples of fine dining to know that eating out in the year 2026 is too damn expensive. These days, even the most generic fast food might cost $50 or $60 to feed a family of four, and buying groceries to cook at home is an increasingly fraught and overwhelming expense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thankfully, the high-end California cuisine restaurant isn’t the \u003ci>only\u003c/i> hallmark of the Bay Area food scene — there’s also the neighborhood taco truck, noodle counter, bánh mì shop and casual takeout dim sum deli. In every city in the Bay, these essential restaurants are still feeding the people, often at a shockingly inexpensive price point. You just need to know which ones are actually delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here, then, is my guide to eating well on a budget: 25 of my favorite affordable Bay Area restaurants where you can get a full, satisfying meal for $12 or less.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsinSanFrancisco\">Cheap eats in San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsintheSouthBayandPeninsula\">Cheap eats in the South Bay and Peninsula\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CheapEatsintheNorthBay\">Cheap eats in the North Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch1>\u003cb>EAST BAY\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989352\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989352\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast sandwich with sausage, scrambled egg and queso fresco.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/universal-bakery-pan-con-todo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pan con todo with Guatemalan sausage at Universal Bakery, which has locations in San Pablo, San Francisco and Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Universal Bakery\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1946 23rd St., San Pablo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This bustling Guatemalan bakery is the king of the delicious, inexpensive breakfast sandwich, serving at least seven different varieties of its pan con todo. The baseline sandwich ($6.55) comes with fluffy scrambled eggs, refried beans, crema and a wedge of fresh cheese — the staples of a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, all piled onto a good, crusty French roll. My favorite version adds well-charred longaniza (Guatemalan pork sausage) to the mix; others feature sweet plantains or carne asada. The bakery has additional locations in \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Universal+Bakery+on+Mission/@37.741405,-122.4228077,3291m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f7e5d405c2f8b:0xb24e30761070f266!8m2!3d37.741405!4d-122.4228077!16s%2Fg%2F1vlqqfmk?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">San Francisco’s Mission District\u003c/a> and in \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Universal+Bakery+on+Geneva/@37.7070028,-122.4146378,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f7ec563977c09:0x63c23ad1f3300324!8m2!3d37.7070028!4d-122.4146378!16s%2Fg%2F11bx9t7vrz?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Daly City\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989373\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989373\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Seared fish fillet on a bed of noodles, with grilled vegetables on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/aqua-terra_branzino_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even the most expensive items on the menu at Aqua Terra, like this seared branzino, only cost $16. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Aqua Terra Grill at Contra Costa College\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2600 Mission Bell Dr. SAB-130, San Pablo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located on the Contra Costa College campus, \u003ca href=\"https://linktr.ee/ccc_order?fbclid=IwY2xjawRlx6JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEWHBmMlhCam1JYk1ZTjdRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkJtQLftRhaphc9HVpBM1Pr9EdNirfRNdN9VR35XQrQKyp3Rsl1ce1jrD45w_aem_5GeBZRKVmdFI7Kideqc3EA\">Aqua Terra\u003c/a> functions as a training facility for students in the school’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ccc_culinaryacademy\">culinary academy\u003c/a>, but it it’s also fully open to the public for lunch service, three days a week (Tuesday–Thursday). The bonus with getting a meal prepared and served by students still learning their trade is that it’s an extraordinary value — say, a cool $9 for braised beef shank ravioli or a portobello focaccia sandwich with fries. (It’s just $16 to splurge on grilled branzino with garlic noodles.) The food can be a little uneven, with a throwback-to-’90s-New-American vibe. But it’s a solid meal — slightly fancy, even! — with sweet, earnest service for fast food prices. Note: the restaurant follows the school calendar, which means it’s already wrapping up for the semester. The last hurrah is a big Mother’s Day buffet on May 12–13; \u003ca href=\"https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=SmlUw-XMn0iyo6Kp0m4MP3XtfkM2ShJPnQ6gSMwaMQJUNE5WMTdVR05WQldHUTJDNEFWUEFKM1M2MC4u&route=shorturl\">reservations\u003c/a> are highly recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989374\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989374\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"Whole grilled chicken in a takeout container, with rice, refried beans and various salsas on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/la-selva_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The whole chicken meal at Richmond’s La Selva is an affordable way to feed the whole family. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>La Selva Taqueria\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1049 23rd St., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The house specialty at this rainforest-themed taqueria near the end of \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/a-richmond-taco-crawl-2-1/\">Richmond’s 23rd Street taco corridor\u003c/a> is pollo al carbon — whole spatchcocked chickens slow-grilled over charcoal until the skin is deeply charred and the flesh is smoky, tender and delicious. You can get your chicken either on tacos or in a burrito, but my preference is the $30 family meal, which comes with a whole bird, tortillas, rice, refried beans, chips and as many tubs of salsa as you want from the restaurant’s excellent serve-yourself salsa bar. It’s enough to feed my family of four with leftovers — just $7.50 per person.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Grand Cafe\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4250 Macdonald Ave., Richmond\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This under-the-radar Hong Kong cafe tucked inside a Target shopping plaza isn’t notable for any single standout dish, but instead for its overall dedication to affordability: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13986256/cheap-cantonese-restaurant-richmond-east-bay-grand-cafe-dim-sum-claypot-rice\">Nothing on the menu costs more than $10.75\u003c/a>, and most dishes come with free soy milk and a bowl of hot soup on the side. My favorite is the claypot rice with spare ribs and preserved sausage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13923368\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13923368\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior.jpg\" alt=\"Exterior of the Antojitos Guatemaltecos restaurant with a yellow facade and a handful of outdoor tables on the sidewalk.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/antojitos-exterior-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tamales are the staple dish at Antojitos Guatemaltecos in El Cerrito. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Antojitos Guatemaltecos\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>11252 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tamales are the staple dish at this \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923359/antojitos-guatemaltecos-guatemalan-restaurant-el-cerrito-tamales-pollo-campero\">homestyle Guatemalan restaurant\u003c/a> — and at $5 a pop, they’re also its most affordable offering. Two of these, mixed and matched between about a half-dozen available varieties, make for a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner. I especially love the wonderfully jiggly and custard-like Guatemalan-style corn-masa tamales and the harder-to-find \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13913355/guatemalan-rice-tamales-antojitos-guatemaltecos-richmond\">rice tamales\u003c/a>, which are like a soupy Central American cousin to Chinese zongzi. The restaurant has a great deal on its extraordinarily flavorful \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-14/pollo-campero-central-america-los-angeles\">Pollo Campero–style\u003c/a> fried chicken — a whole leg, fries and a handmade tortilla for $11.95.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Top Dog\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2534 Durant Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The original, and only remaining, location of Top Dog is a Berkeley \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13954597/top-dog-late-night-hot-dogs-berkeley-midnight-diners\">late-night institution\u003c/a> for good reason. The hot dogs, served on the shop’s signature toasty French rolls, are simply the best. One of them makes for a solid lunch (the garlic frankfurter is my favorite); two in one sitting feels like a downright feast. Note well: Most of the dogs are priced at $4.75, but the shop has a $5 credit card minimum. If you don’t feel like buying a soda, the mild, creamy potato salad is a nice add-on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989377\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989377\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Dark red fava bean stew, with two crusty rolls on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/alems-coffee-shihan-ful_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The shihan ful at Alem’s Coffee in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Alem’s Coffee\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>5353 Claremont Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Strictly speaking, my favorite dishes at this classic Eritrean cafe are \u003ci>just \u003c/i>above this roundup’s $12 threshold — the oniony egg frittata ($12.50) and the spice-redolent fava bean stew known as shihan ful ($13), both served with excellent crusty bread for dipping. On a hot day, though, it’s tough to beat the value on the $9 umbotito, a quirky, refreshing potato sandwich of sorts — slices of cold, al dente boiled potato topped with lettuce, tomatoes and onions in a light vinaigrette. The cafe’s location, across from the Oakland DMV parking lot, has made it the one bright spot in many otherwise dreary mornings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989378\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989378\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Sticky rice, sausage balls and fried egg on a metal tray.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/souk-savanh_rice-plate_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The $10 Lao sausage rice plate at the newly opened Souk Savanh 2.0 in Oakland. The fried egg is a $2 add-on. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Soukh Savanh 2.0\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1707 Telegraph Ave., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently reborn in a prime Uptown location, the new, counter-service incarnation of this \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/paradise-deferred-2-1/\">much-loved Lao-Thai restaurant\u003c/a> has one of the most affordable menus in the neighborhood. The headliner is the selection of $10 rice plates, which are available all day long. I especially love the fermented Lao sausage, which Souk Savanh serves as crisp-edged meatballs — absurdly delicious when dunked in a runny-yolked fried egg (a $2 add-on); dipped in funky-sweet jeow som; and then scooped up, Lao-style, with a clump of sticky rice. Pro tip: For a near-perfect meal, two diners can split one rice plate and an order of nam khao (crispy rice ball salad) — one of the best versions in the Bay — for about $12 a person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989379\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989379\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding what's left of a banh mi sandwich with ground pork and egg.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/banh-mi-ba-le_credit-luketsai_1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of a half-eaten #13 meatball and egg bánh mì from Banh Mi Ba Le. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Banh Mi Ba Le\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1909 International Blvd., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ba Le’s #13 meatball-and-egg bánh mì shot to the top of my bánh mì rankings the first time I tried it, some 15 years ago — just an exquisite combination of juicy, peppery ground pork; a jammy-yolked fried egg; a big smear of buttery Vietnamese mayo; and both fresh and pickled vegetables. It’s still my favorite to this day. The only things that have changed is that the shop now keeps super-limited hours (Friday–Sunday only) and no longer has a dine-in area. The prices have crept up too, but at $6.30 a pop for most sandwiches on the menu ($7.25 for the #13), it’s still as good a bang for your buck as you can find in the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989380\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989380\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Two tacos, radishes, grilled onions and nopales on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/taqueria-el-paisa_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A two-taco plate at Taqueria El Paisa in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Taqueria El Paisa\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>4610 International Blvd., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beauty of Fruitvale is that you can get amazing, inexpensive tacos up and down International Boulevard, but this no-frills taqueria is the \u003ca href=\"https://eastbayexpress.com/taqueria-el-paisa-at-com-serves-the-best-tacos-in-town-2-1/\">best of the best\u003c/a>. Favorites include the decadent tripa (a divine combination of soft, squishy and crunchy textures) and the exquisitely tender, juicy suadero. These days, El Paisa tacos will run you $4.50 a pop — by no means the cheapest in the neighborhood — but they’re so rich and meaty that a two-taco lunch is usually all I want. A three-taco lunch? That’s cause for celebration (and maybe a short nap).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsinSanFrancisco\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>SAN FRANCISCO\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>Freddie’s Sandwiches\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>300 Francisco St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Freddie’s is the very definition of the low-key neighborhood deli that’s always there when you need it. I got lunch here at least once a week when I worked near North Beach, alternating between the Italian combo and the egg salad, both excellent, always on Dutch Crunch. Most sandwiches are priced at $10.95 for the small (but generously stuffed) 6-inch size — I never wanted anything bigger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989385\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"The interior of a Chinese bakery, with a fully stocked display case and old-fashioned signage visible.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/lung-fung_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lung Fung Bakery serves some of the best baked pork buns and egg custard tarts in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Lung Fung Bakery\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1823 Clement St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chinese bakeries are some of the best places to cobble together an S-tier struggle meal — to, for instance, drop $5 on a couple of barbecue pork buns and fill your daily meat and carb allowance. At Lung Fung in the Outer Richmond, the baked char siu buns aren’t just inexpensive, at $2.50 apiece; they’re also my very favorite version of this treat — beautifully golden-brown with a super-lush and meaty filling. If you’ve got a couple bucks to spare on dessert, Lung Fung’s egg custard tarts ($2.38) are also some of the best around. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989390\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989390\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"Takeout containers of soba and curry chicken against a concrete backdrop.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yo-yo_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The curry chicken special and a half order of cold soba from Yo Yo’s. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Yo Yo’s\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>318 Pacific Ave., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This tiny, utterly unpretentious Japanese takeout shop feels like a miracle in the Financial District. Udon for $9? Six-piece unagi rolls for $3.25? Almost everything on the menu available as a (still-substantial) half portion? All in all, I’m hard-pressed to think of a more affordable lunch in the city. On days when I’m particularly cash-strapped, my go-to is the half order of cold soba ($5), which comes loaded with spinach, tofu puffs and crispy puffed rice, plus a refreshing hit of wasabi by request. But it’s hard to pass up on the curry chicken special ($12) when it’s available: two tender chicken legs, a hard-boiled egg and big chunks of carrot and potato in a spicy-sweet sauce that tastes more like home-cooked Thai massaman curry than your standard Japanese roux. It’s delicious, and enough food to stretch the leftovers into another meal. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989251\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989251\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Siu mai dumplings in a metal steamer.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_002-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beef siu mai dumplings at Good Mong Kok. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Good Mong Kok\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1039 Stockton St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s easy to understand why this popular takeout dim sum spot draws some of the longest lines in Chinatown: The shop sells a huge assortment of extremely tasty, conveniently portable buns and dumplings for bargain-basement prices. Most items are between $2 and $4, perfect for sampling a good mix. The steamed buns here are especially great: uncommonly juicy and savory pork-and-vegetable buns (three for $3.80) and, my favorite, the truly enormous big (or “combination”) chicken bun ($2.80), which comes jam-packed with thigh meat, shiitakes, preserved sausage and hard-boiled egg — a whole meal unto itself. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989392\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989392\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2.jpg\" alt=\"A bowl of beef noodles with Burmese tea leaf salad on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/yamo-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yuma’s beef noodles with an order of tea leaf salad on the side. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Yamo\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3406 18th St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This narrow, eight-seat Burmese noodle counter in the heart of the Mission seems almost too charming to be real, with its older proprietress working three hot woks at a time while her daughter greets the shop’s diverse cast of twenty- and thirtysomething regular customers by name. Oh, and every single item on the menu costs $9 or less. The headliner here is the house noodles ($9), a simple and satisfying oil-slicked stir-fry topped with crispy garlic and your protein of choice. But everything I’ve tried has been tasty: the blazing-hot, shatteringly crispy potato samusas ($5) and the tea leaf salad ($9), which has a wonderful zip of heat that cuts through the funk of the fermented tea. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989393\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989393\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A container of salmon poke and a side of white rice, shown on a park bench.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/basa-seafood-shoyu-salmon-poke_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An order of shoyu salmon poke from Basa Seafood Express is best enjoyed on a nearby park bench. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Basa Seafood Express\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3064 24th St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This bare-bones Mission District seafood counter is a neighborhood staple for affordable sushi rolls, sashimi and fried seafood dishes. My go-to lunch order is the shoyu salmon poke ($8.50) with a small side of rice — the combination of raw fish, seasoned soy sauce and hot rice is such a simple, exquisite pleasure in the middle of the workday. Also great: the impeccably fried, poboy-adjacent soft-shell crab burger ($11.50). There’s no dine-in seating, so you can bring your food home or find a park bench a couple blocks away for a nice al fresco meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsintheSouthBayandPeninsula\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989395\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989395\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2.jpg\" alt=\"To-go container of barbecue skewers over white rice.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/fil-am_credit-luketsai_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Filipino BBQ skewers over rice from Fil-Am Cuisine in Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Fil-Am Cuisine\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>66 School St., Daly City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a perfect lunch, but two Filipino barbecue meat sticks over rice from Fil-Am Cuisine comes pretty close to my Platonic ideal — especially since it only costs $9.99. The sweet smell of the shop’s well-charred pork and chicken skewers ($3.75 each a la carte) is irresistible. Add a couple more to your order plus a large carton of pancit ($9), and you can feed the whole family. Cash only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989396\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989396\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A waffle and three chicken wings on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/keiths-chicken_credit-luketsai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Three chicken wings and a Belgian waffle — one of the discounted daily specials at Keith’s Chicken & Waffles in Daly City. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Keith’s Chicken & Waffles\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>270 San Pedro Rd., Daly City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best thing about Keith’s is that it sells some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13979460/keiths-chicken-waffles-crunchiest-fried-chicken-daly-city-late-night\">crunchiest, most exceptionally well seasoned fried chicken\u003c/a> you can find in the Bay Area, along with several varieties of crisp-edged, airy-light waffles. The second-best thing? The prices are so reasonable that they put even fast food chicken chains like Popeyes and Raising Cane’s to shame. Combo meals, which come with a waffle or side dish, start at $12, and there’s always a daily special — say, three wings and a Belgian waffle — for around $10.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989261\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989261\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a salmon musubi.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050626BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_031-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The luscious salmon musubi from Takahashi Market in San Mateo. The 120-year-old market’s musubis are one of the Bay Area’s best lunch deals. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Takahashi Market\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>221 S. Claremont St., San Mateo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wonderfully varied assortment of musubis at this 120-year-old Japanese-Hawaiian market aren’t just one of the best lunch deals in town; they’re one of my favorite things to eat in the Bay Area, flat out. Just one of these hefty, seven-inch beauties will fill you up — the Spam musubi ($6.95) is a classic for good reason, but my personal favorite is the decadent, tobiko-topped salmon-and-crawfish musubi.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Taiwan Porridge\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>20956 Homestead Rd., Cupertino\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Taiwanese immigrants, this strip mall spot’s format is deeply nostalgic: a dazzling array of hot and cold dishes all meant to accompany big tureens of velvety sweet potato congee. Value-wise, the highlight is the $12.83 three-item lunch special (available until 4 p.m.), which puts the average Chinese takeout joint’s combo plate to shame with cozy, home-style options like cold lotus root salad, twice-cooked pork belly, anchovies stir-fried with peanuts, and loofah with scrambled eggs. If budget allows, you should absolutely pay an extra $1.83 to upgrade from regular steamed rice to congee — or better yet, get the four-item combo ($15.58) and split it with a friend. Taiwan Porridge also has locations in Milpitas and Fremont.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989256\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989256\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED.jpg\" alt='An Indian supermarket lit up at night. The sign above reads, \"Apni Mandi.\"' width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/050526BEST-MEALS-UNDER-10_GH_015-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The exterior of Apni Mandi in Sunnyvale. The Indian market sells hot food 24/7. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Apni Mandi\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1111 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not only is the hot food counter at Sunnyvale’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13955884/sunnyvale-late-night-food-24-hour-indian-grocery-apni-mandi-apna-bazar\">24-hour Indian grocery store\u003c/a> open all day and night, its $8.99 vegetarian thali platter is one of best deals around — a three-compartment foil clamshell container crammed full of rice, onion salad and your choice of two curries (I especially love the paneer makhani and the fritter-studded kadhi pakora), with a couple rounds of chapati on the side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989400\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989400\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a small banh mi in a parking lot.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/duc-huong_grilled-pork-egg_luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The option to order a budget-friendly half-size bánh mì at Duc Huong also allows diners to try multiple varieties. Pictured here is the grilled pork and egg bánh mì. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Duc Huong\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1020 Story Rd. Ste. C, San José\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My favorite South Bay bánh mì mini-chain is especially good for budget-minded diners because it offers a half-size sandwich option ($4.50 for most varieties), allowing lighter eaters to save some money — and giving heartier eaters the chance to sample two different sandwiches for the price of one. I love the classic #2 cold-cut combo the best, but the #8 (grilled pork topped with a fluffy egg omelette) is also pretty great, especially on garlic bread. Why not get both? Apart from its very busy original Story Road location, Duc Huong has \u003ca href=\"https://duchuongsandwiches.com/#locations\">three other shops\u003c/a> around San José, plus one in Sacramento.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"CheapEatsintheNorthBay\">\u003c/a>\u003cb>NORTH BAY\u003c/b>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>Guerneville Taco Truck\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>16632 Main St., Guerneville\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amidst all of Sonoma County’s frou-frou dining options, this taco truck — parked in a Safeway parking lot — is an oasis for locals and daytrippers looking for something more casual and inexpensive. Tacos are $3; the excellent (massive, totally shareable) breakfast burrito is $14. My favorite, the $12.50 fry-stuffed California burrito, has enough calories to keep you going all day. This is a must-stop for my family on our way to an Armstrong Woods hike, or on our way back from a day of Russian River Valley wine tasting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13907215\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13907215\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a flannel and hat tends to chicken on a grill on an overcast day\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/WhataChicken-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">What a Chicken’s outdoor grill, seen here at the Santa Rosa Flea Market. \u003ccite>(Gabe Meline/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>What a Chicken\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>706 E. Washington St., Petaluma\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This gem of a pollo asado shop sits near the gateway to wine country, slinging hearty portions of its exceptionally juicy and crisp-skinned char-grilled chicken at a good value in one of the Bay Area’s most expensive regions. The prices especially work in your favor if you come with a crowd: My standard order is a half ($18.99) or whole chicken plate ($34.99), which comes with rice, salsa and piping-hot handmade tortillas — plenty of food to feed two or four adults, respectively, at under $10 per person. Pro tip: I always add one of the shop’s meaty, slow-cooked pork ribs ($4.99) to my order. It’s just as good as the chicken.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989401\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989401\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai.jpg\" alt=\"A pupusa on a white plate, with a small tub of curtido and a bowl of salsa on the side.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/pupuseria-blankita_credit-luketsai-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of Pupuseria Blankita’s toasty, well-griddled pupusas. \u003ccite>(Luke Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Pupuseria Blankita\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>48 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two of Blankita’s toasty, well-griddled pupusas make for the ideal post–Marin Farmers Market lunch — say, the revuelta ($5.50), with its classic pork, bean and cheese filling, and maybe the green-flecked zucchini and cheese ($4.50), both topped with a generous heap of bright, crunchy curtido. To mix it up, sometimes I’ll order just one pupusa and add a gooey, sugar-dusted fried plantain empanada ($5) for dessert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>A lone \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13970587/san-francisco-coyote-eating-habits-research-poop-samples\">coyote\u003c/a> stunned biologists and others when it paddled its way to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/alcatraz-island\">Alcatraz\u003c/a> earlier this year, an island surrounded by swift, choppy waters notorious for thwarting prisoners’ escapes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time, biologists guessed the coyote swam from San Francisco, which is a little over 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from the fortress. But it turns out the male coyote actually made an even longer swim from Angel Island, 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='news_12055137']“Our working assumption was that the coyote made the swim from San Francisco because it is a significantly shorter distance. We couldn’t help being impressed by his accomplishment in making it to Alcatraz,” National Park Service wildlife ecologist Bill Merkle said in a news release Monday titled “Alcatraz Coyote Wasn’t a City Boy After All.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Coyotes are known to be resilient and adaptable, and he certainly demonstrated those qualities,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Camilla Fox, founder and executive director of nonprofit Project Coyote, said the coyote likely departed its home base in search of a mate or new territory to defend. She said coyotes, like wolves, do swim, although it’s incredibly rare for humans to spot one doing so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have never, ever heard such a story of a coyote making such a long journey in a pretty challenging ocean current,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Video from early January shows the coyote paddling in the chilly San Francisco Bay and then struggling to get onto the rocky island. It was followed by a Jan. 24 visitor sighting and photographs by Rebecca Husson, who was in town for a cousin’s wedding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She and her family were surprised to spot the coyote on their morning tour of Alcatraz Island.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_13985120']“He looked like a drowned rat when he ended up on the island, and when we saw him he looked healthy and so beautiful. He looked like he had been eating well,” she told The Associated Press on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Biologists found fresh coyote tracks and scat, which they sent to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/uc-davis\">UC Davis\u003c/a> for DNA analysis. Officials were stunned to learn the swimmer was part of the coyote population on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/angel-island\">Angel Island\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The park service was prepared to capture and relocate the coyote because of Alcatraz’s role as a seabird nesting habitat. But he has never again been spotted or caught on recording devices and there is no evidence the coyote is still on the island.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alcatraz Island became a federal prison in the 1930s, designed to house the worst criminals, but it closed in the 1960s because its remoteness made it too costly to operate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985120/1939-escape-from-alcatraz-island-arthur-doc-barker-stamphill-shot-captured-prison-1930s\">36 men attempted 14 separate escapes\u003c/a> from Alcatraz. Nearly all were caught or didn’t survive the cold, swift current. In 1973, the island reopened as a park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Angel Island is a state park that once served as a processing and detention center where Chinese and other unwanted immigrants were kept for a couple of days to months, even as long as two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn’t easy for coyotes to colonize Angel Island, but they persevered, Fox of Project Coyote said. She asks that visitors to the island and other open spaces be mindful not to disturb coyote families and their dens given that it is currently pup season.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have never, ever heard such a story of a coyote making such a long journey in a pretty challenging ocean current,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Video from early January shows the coyote paddling in the chilly San Francisco Bay and then struggling to get onto the rocky island. It was followed by a Jan. 24 visitor sighting and photographs by Rebecca Husson, who was in town for a cousin’s wedding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She and her family were surprised to spot the coyote on their morning tour of Alcatraz Island.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“He looked like a drowned rat when he ended up on the island, and when we saw him he looked healthy and so beautiful. He looked like he had been eating well,” she told The Associated Press on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Biologists found fresh coyote tracks and scat, which they sent to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/uc-davis\">UC Davis\u003c/a> for DNA analysis. Officials were stunned to learn the swimmer was part of the coyote population on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/angel-island\">Angel Island\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The park service was prepared to capture and relocate the coyote because of Alcatraz’s role as a seabird nesting habitat. But he has never again been spotted or caught on recording devices and there is no evidence the coyote is still on the island.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alcatraz Island became a federal prison in the 1930s, designed to house the worst criminals, but it closed in the 1960s because its remoteness made it too costly to operate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985120/1939-escape-from-alcatraz-island-arthur-doc-barker-stamphill-shot-captured-prison-1930s\">36 men attempted 14 separate escapes\u003c/a> from Alcatraz. Nearly all were caught or didn’t survive the cold, swift current. In 1973, the island reopened as a park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Angel Island is a state park that once served as a processing and detention center where Chinese and other unwanted immigrants were kept for a couple of days to months, even as long as two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn’t easy for coyotes to colonize Angel Island, but they persevered, Fox of Project Coyote said. She asks that visitors to the island and other open spaces be mindful not to disturb coyote families and their dens given that it is currently pup season.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "‘Long Live the Monarchs’: Giving Sacramento’s WNBA Team Their Due",
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"content": "\u003cp>Here’s a sports history fact: In 2005, Wheaties released their first-ever special-edition box that featured an \u003ca href=\"https://www.alamy.com/wheaties-cereal-has-issued-a-special-edition-commemorative-package-honoring-the-wnba-championship-sacramento-monarchs-following-their-victory-over-the-connecticut-sun-in-the-wnba-finals-in-minneapolis-on-november-5-2005-thjs-package-marks-the-first-wheaties-appearance-for-the-monarchs-and-the-second-time-wheaties-has-honored-wnba-players-in-the-leagues-nine-year-history-upi-photobggeneral-mills-image258290158.html\">entire women’s professional team\u003c/a>. The famous breakfast of champions cereal had established a reputation for celebrating Olympians like Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, but never a women’s team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The athletes who finally made executives at General Mills change their minds? The Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Monarchs — who played basketball in the state capital as one the league’s founding eight franchises, beginning in 1997 — won a national championship that year, and later went to the White House to meet the President. To date, the Monarchs are the only professional team from Sacramento in any sport to achieve such a feat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989181\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1364\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989181\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722-768x524.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722-1536x1048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ticha Penicheiro of the Sacramento Monarchs throws a pass under the basket against Ruth Riley of the Detroit Shock during Game 3 of the 2006 WNBA Finals September 3, 2006 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Led by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame stalwarts like Yolanda Griffith, Ruthie Bolton and Ticha Penicheiro, the Monarch squad became an enduring contender in a rugged, nascent era of the “W,” winning two Western Conference championships en route to their coveted league trophy. In their heyday, the Monarchs ranked among the league’s premier units, regularly amassing an army of women’s hoop supporters from across Northern California at Arco Arena. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what happened? Today, with record-breaking attendance for the WNBA and a zealous fanbase for the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco, why do so few people remember the Monarchs? \u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘A Sacramento that could have been’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Despite disbanding in 2009, the Monarchs’ legacy remains intact in Sacramento, if you know where to look. Step inside Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento — home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, and where the NCAA hosted games for the women’s March Madness tournament this season — and you’ll find Monarchs banners hanging high from otherwise empty rafters. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since 1985, when the Kansas City Kings originally migrated to Sacramento to become the city’s first major professional sports team, the area has struggled to maintain credible franchises. They’ve even been the butt of jokes in national sports discourse (see: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988509/oakland-as-athletics-west-sacramento\">the “West Sacramento” Athletics\u003c/a>). The Monarchs were the city’s defiant exception, reaching the postseason nine times in 13 seasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989184\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1306px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1306\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989184\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470.jpg 1306w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470-160x245.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470-768x1176.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470-1003x1536.jpg 1003w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1306px) 100vw, 1306px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ticha Penicheiro of the Sacramento Monarchs shoots a layup during the game against the Seattle Storm at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, off the court, poor ownership decisions led to the team’s financial unraveling. After threats of moving both the Kings and Monarchs to Seattle or Anaheim, the Maloof family, who took control of both teams in 1998, decided to divest from the Monarchs and focus on their male NBA counterparts. The sudden announcement left a gaping vacuum in Northern California’s professional women’s basketball landscape for the next 15 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the Kings floundered, the Monarchs were largely forgotten by most. But not all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='news_12080384']“I’m a part of various Facebook groups for ‘Bring Back the Monarchs’ campaigns. With the rise of the WNBA and other teams, there’s a lot of chatter here to bring the team back,” says Terra Lopez, 41, a Sacramento-raised musician whose first job was as a Monarchs ball girl at age 15. “Why don’t we have them anymore? That love has never been lost. Around town, there are folks, including myself, who rock our Monarchs gear still. There’s an appreciation for the team.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daniel Tutupoly, a 35-year-old barista, agrees. Though he first fell in love with basketball through the Kings, he quickly realized that the Monarchs were equally entertaining, not to mention more successful, than their male counterparts. Like Lopez, he has refused to completely relinquish his nostalgia for Sacramento’s bygone WNBA glory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[The loss of the Monarchs] doesn’t make any sense, in hindsight,” says Tutupoly, who grew up in Sacramento. “The owners just treated it like a business, rather than considering any of the cultural value. The team was an afterthought, always secondary to Kings. I know a bunch of people here who are excited about the Valkyries right now and drive out to games regularly. So imagine the support there would be for the Monarchs, compared to 20 years ago.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989186\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1321\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989186\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7-768x507.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7-1536x1015.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘Long Live the Monarchs,’ a special issue of Daniel Tutupoly’s Late Pass zine. \u003ccite>(Daniel Tutupoly)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In April, Tutupoly released “Long Live The Monarchs,” a DIY zine dedicated solely to memories of the Monarchs. Inspired by old school issues of \u003ci>Sports Illustrated for Kids\u003c/i>, the Monarchs-edition zine — part of a larger series,\u003ci> Latepass\u003c/i>, that Tutupoly began making during the pandemic — includes crossword puzzles, digital collages, individual player statistics, stickers and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a physical vestige of the city’s pride and pain, of having lost despite winning, of everything that Sacramento was and no longer is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Monarchs represent a Sacramento that could have been, in sports but also in every sector of the city,” says Lopez, who played basketball at Sacramento High School as a teenager and recalls the team’s social and cultural impact early on. “[The Monarchs] really took the time outside of their games to connect with younger players in the city. That meant everything to me and all of my teammates, and Sacramento in general. It gave us something to embody and envision in a future that we didn’t have before.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Queens on and off the court \u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2020, Lopez launched \u003ca href=\"https://open.spotify.com/show/17eCJqKWuWejH6qKPFRrH5\">\u003ci>The WNBA History Club\u003c/i>,\u003c/a> a podcast that briefly looks at the league’s founding and figures (Lopez later hosted the NPR-syndicated podcast, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1199077847/this-is-what-it-feels-like\">\u003ci>This is What It Feels Like\u003c/i>\u003c/a>, in 2023). Through it all, she has maintained a vociferous fandom of the Monarchs, having attended the inaugural Monarchs game in 1997 and participated in early community events hosted by the team in local parking lots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989183\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1495px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1495\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989183\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316.jpg 1495w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316-160x214.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316-768x1027.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316-1148x1536.jpg 1148w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1495px) 100vw, 1495px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yolanda Griffith of the Sacramento Monarchs celebrates after defeating the Connecticut Sun during Game 4 to win the WNBA Finals September 20, 2005 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to the larger-than-life players, an essential element of the Monarchs’ social contributions to Sacramento came from the fans themselves, many of whom were openly queer. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As a queer person, that was my first representation of seeing queer elders,” Lopez says. “That was out in the open for me for the first time. Queer, older people experiencing joy. That was powerful for me, to know I could have that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It all ended far too quickly. In an interview on \u003ci>Knuckleheads\u003c/i>, a reputable NBA player podcast, Monarchs’ All-Star point guard Ticha Penicheir said that “the team folded in 2009 and it was kind of out of nowhere, nobody expected it. We never really had a chance to say goodbye to our fans. To thank them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a commonly held sentiment by local fans. The way in which the team’s demise came out of thin air is particularly Sacramentan, according to Lopez, who says the city has constantly fumbled good opportunities due to a conservative mindset. Perhaps that has been the hardest part of it all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989180\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1463\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989180\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648-160x117.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648-768x562.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648-1536x1124.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President George W. Bush looks at a jersey as Yolanda Griffith, from the 2005 WNBA Champion Sacramento Monarchs, presents it to him at the White House May 16, 2006 in Washington, DC. \u003ccite>(Win McNamee/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“You had to be there to really understand the significance of it for Sacramento: historically, culturally, not only in sports,” Lopez says. “From a fan’s perspective, we had so much going. There was so much more potential left. But as tragic as losing the Monarchs was, the people who were in the building at Arco [have] a love and pride for the team that is so palpable. That still exists in Sacramento, too.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As it turns out, the most important words that Monarchs fans would ever hear came from the in-game announcer during the 2005 WNBA Finals, who enthusiastically called out for the first and last time in Sacramento’s tormented sporting existence: “Rejoice, capital city, rejoice!”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Here’s a sports history fact: In 2005, Wheaties released their first-ever special-edition box that featured an \u003ca href=\"https://www.alamy.com/wheaties-cereal-has-issued-a-special-edition-commemorative-package-honoring-the-wnba-championship-sacramento-monarchs-following-their-victory-over-the-connecticut-sun-in-the-wnba-finals-in-minneapolis-on-november-5-2005-thjs-package-marks-the-first-wheaties-appearance-for-the-monarchs-and-the-second-time-wheaties-has-honored-wnba-players-in-the-leagues-nine-year-history-upi-photobggeneral-mills-image258290158.html\">entire women’s professional team\u003c/a>. The famous breakfast of champions cereal had established a reputation for celebrating Olympians like Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, but never a women’s team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The athletes who finally made executives at General Mills change their minds? The Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Monarchs — who played basketball in the state capital as one the league’s founding eight franchises, beginning in 1997 — won a national championship that year, and later went to the White House to meet the President. To date, the Monarchs are the only professional team from Sacramento in any sport to achieve such a feat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989181\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1364\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989181\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722-768x524.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-71779722-1536x1048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ticha Penicheiro of the Sacramento Monarchs throws a pass under the basket against Ruth Riley of the Detroit Shock during Game 3 of the 2006 WNBA Finals September 3, 2006 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Led by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame stalwarts like Yolanda Griffith, Ruthie Bolton and Ticha Penicheiro, the Monarch squad became an enduring contender in a rugged, nascent era of the “W,” winning two Western Conference championships en route to their coveted league trophy. In their heyday, the Monarchs ranked among the league’s premier units, regularly amassing an army of women’s hoop supporters from across Northern California at Arco Arena. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what happened? Today, with record-breaking attendance for the WNBA and a zealous fanbase for the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco, why do so few people remember the Monarchs? \u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘A Sacramento that could have been’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Despite disbanding in 2009, the Monarchs’ legacy remains intact in Sacramento, if you know where to look. Step inside Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento — home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, and where the NCAA hosted games for the women’s March Madness tournament this season — and you’ll find Monarchs banners hanging high from otherwise empty rafters. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since 1985, when the Kansas City Kings originally migrated to Sacramento to become the city’s first major professional sports team, the area has struggled to maintain credible franchises. They’ve even been the butt of jokes in national sports discourse (see: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988509/oakland-as-athletics-west-sacramento\">the “West Sacramento” Athletics\u003c/a>). The Monarchs were the city’s defiant exception, reaching the postseason nine times in 13 seasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989184\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1306px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1306\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989184\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470.jpg 1306w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470-160x245.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470-768x1176.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-592470-1003x1536.jpg 1003w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1306px) 100vw, 1306px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ticha Penicheiro of the Sacramento Monarchs shoots a layup during the game against the Seattle Storm at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, off the court, poor ownership decisions led to the team’s financial unraveling. After threats of moving both the Kings and Monarchs to Seattle or Anaheim, the Maloof family, who took control of both teams in 1998, decided to divest from the Monarchs and focus on their male NBA counterparts. The sudden announcement left a gaping vacuum in Northern California’s professional women’s basketball landscape for the next 15 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the Kings floundered, the Monarchs were largely forgotten by most. But not all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“I’m a part of various Facebook groups for ‘Bring Back the Monarchs’ campaigns. With the rise of the WNBA and other teams, there’s a lot of chatter here to bring the team back,” says Terra Lopez, 41, a Sacramento-raised musician whose first job was as a Monarchs ball girl at age 15. “Why don’t we have them anymore? That love has never been lost. Around town, there are folks, including myself, who rock our Monarchs gear still. There’s an appreciation for the team.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daniel Tutupoly, a 35-year-old barista, agrees. Though he first fell in love with basketball through the Kings, he quickly realized that the Monarchs were equally entertaining, not to mention more successful, than their male counterparts. Like Lopez, he has refused to completely relinquish his nostalgia for Sacramento’s bygone WNBA glory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[The loss of the Monarchs] doesn’t make any sense, in hindsight,” says Tutupoly, who grew up in Sacramento. “The owners just treated it like a business, rather than considering any of the cultural value. The team was an afterthought, always secondary to Kings. I know a bunch of people here who are excited about the Valkyries right now and drive out to games regularly. So imagine the support there would be for the Monarchs, compared to 20 years ago.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989186\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1321\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989186\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7-768x507.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Monarchs7-1536x1015.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘Long Live the Monarchs,’ a special issue of Daniel Tutupoly’s Late Pass zine. \u003ccite>(Daniel Tutupoly)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In April, Tutupoly released “Long Live The Monarchs,” a DIY zine dedicated solely to memories of the Monarchs. Inspired by old school issues of \u003ci>Sports Illustrated for Kids\u003c/i>, the Monarchs-edition zine — part of a larger series,\u003ci> Latepass\u003c/i>, that Tutupoly began making during the pandemic — includes crossword puzzles, digital collages, individual player statistics, stickers and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a physical vestige of the city’s pride and pain, of having lost despite winning, of everything that Sacramento was and no longer is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Monarchs represent a Sacramento that could have been, in sports but also in every sector of the city,” says Lopez, who played basketball at Sacramento High School as a teenager and recalls the team’s social and cultural impact early on. “[The Monarchs] really took the time outside of their games to connect with younger players in the city. That meant everything to me and all of my teammates, and Sacramento in general. It gave us something to embody and envision in a future that we didn’t have before.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Queens on and off the court \u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2020, Lopez launched \u003ca href=\"https://open.spotify.com/show/17eCJqKWuWejH6qKPFRrH5\">\u003ci>The WNBA History Club\u003c/i>,\u003c/a> a podcast that briefly looks at the league’s founding and figures (Lopez later hosted the NPR-syndicated podcast, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1199077847/this-is-what-it-feels-like\">\u003ci>This is What It Feels Like\u003c/i>\u003c/a>, in 2023). Through it all, she has maintained a vociferous fandom of the Monarchs, having attended the inaugural Monarchs game in 1997 and participated in early community events hosted by the team in local parking lots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989183\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1495px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1495\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989183\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316.jpg 1495w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316-160x214.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316-768x1027.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-55731316-1148x1536.jpg 1148w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1495px) 100vw, 1495px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yolanda Griffith of the Sacramento Monarchs celebrates after defeating the Connecticut Sun during Game 4 to win the WNBA Finals September 20, 2005 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to the larger-than-life players, an essential element of the Monarchs’ social contributions to Sacramento came from the fans themselves, many of whom were openly queer. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As a queer person, that was my first representation of seeing queer elders,” Lopez says. “That was out in the open for me for the first time. Queer, older people experiencing joy. That was powerful for me, to know I could have that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It all ended far too quickly. In an interview on \u003ci>Knuckleheads\u003c/i>, a reputable NBA player podcast, Monarchs’ All-Star point guard Ticha Penicheir said that “the team folded in 2009 and it was kind of out of nowhere, nobody expected it. We never really had a chance to say goodbye to our fans. To thank them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a commonly held sentiment by local fans. The way in which the team’s demise came out of thin air is particularly Sacramentan, according to Lopez, who says the city has constantly fumbled good opportunities due to a conservative mindset. Perhaps that has been the hardest part of it all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989180\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1463\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989180\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648-160x117.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648-768x562.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/GettyImages-57625648-1536x1124.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President George W. Bush looks at a jersey as Yolanda Griffith, from the 2005 WNBA Champion Sacramento Monarchs, presents it to him at the White House May 16, 2006 in Washington, DC. \u003ccite>(Win McNamee/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“You had to be there to really understand the significance of it for Sacramento: historically, culturally, not only in sports,” Lopez says. “From a fan’s perspective, we had so much going. There was so much more potential left. But as tragic as losing the Monarchs was, the people who were in the building at Arco [have] a love and pride for the team that is so palpable. That still exists in Sacramento, too.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As it turns out, the most important words that Monarchs fans would ever hear came from the in-game announcer during the 2005 WNBA Finals, who enthusiastically called out for the first and last time in Sacramento’s tormented sporting existence: “Rejoice, capital city, rejoice!”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>An intrepid sea lion nicknamed Chonkers is waddling his way into the hearts of tourists and locals who have flocked to San Francisco’s Pier 39 for a glimpse of the massive pinniped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday morning, visitors snapped photos as the Steller sea lion flopped on the pier, surrounded by dozens of much smaller California sea lions that call the docks home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_13983145']“He’s like a Volkswagen! He’s so huge!” said Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, a visitor from Los Angeles who had an extra half hour so she ran down to the pier for a hopeful peek of the elusive sea lion. “I have heard everywhere about this big giant sea lion, and I like to look at things, so just thought I’d check it out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chonkers likely came from up north off the coast of Washington or Oregon and is estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds (680 and 907 kilograms), said Laura Gill, public programs manager at The Marine Mammal Center in nearby Sausalito. Chonkers has been one of the few Steller sea lions to venture to the pier, which is protected from predators and crashing waves while providing a fish-filled buffet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s plenty of food in San Francisco Bay for them, so the fish, the rockfish, the anchovies, the herring, there’s a lot of easy prey for them,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@apnews/video/7635006173397175566\" data-video-id=\"7635006173397175566\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\">\n\u003csection> \u003ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"@apnews\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@apnews?refer=embed\">@apnews\u003c/a> A surprise guest at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is quite literally making waves. Meet Chonkers, the name given to a giant Steller sea lion spotted this week lounging among his considerably smaller California sea lion neighbors. Chonkers belongs to the Steller species, the largest of all sea lions, known for their commanding presence and dock-dominating energy. Adult males can weigh over a ton. \u003ca title=\"sealion\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/sealion?refer=embed\">#sealion\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"cuteanimals\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cuteanimals?refer=embed\">#cuteanimals\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"sanfrancisco\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/sanfrancisco?refer=embed\">#sanfrancisco\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"seal\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/seal?refer=embed\">#seal\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"california\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/california?refer=embed\">#california\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"fishermanswharf\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fishermanswharf?refer=embed\">#fishermanswharf\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"animals\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/animals?refer=embed\">#animals\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"ocean\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ocean?refer=embed\">#ocean\u003c/a> \u003ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"♬ original sound - The Associated Press\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-The-Associated-Press-7635006276820339470?refer=embed\">♬ original sound – The Associated Press\u003c/a> \u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp> [tiktok]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The giant sea lion, which was first spotted on the pier last month, has brought the community together, said San Francisco resident Danielle Ovadia. “He’s so precious, and he’s quite literally humongous,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_13987000']Sea lions have become synonymous with the popular tourist pier, but they didn’t start gathering there until after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, according to the marina. One lone male was quickly joined by dozens more and by February 1990, the pinniped population had grown to more than 300.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chonkers has been spotted at the docks early in the morning but is harder to pin down during the rest of the day, Gill said. She said it is endearing to watch him try to snuggle with the regular sea lions for warmth and it will be interesting to see if other Steller sea lions follow suit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He’s trying to fit in, but he sticks out like a sore thumb,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>An intrepid sea lion nicknamed Chonkers is waddling his way into the hearts of tourists and locals who have flocked to San Francisco’s Pier 39 for a glimpse of the massive pinniped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday morning, visitors snapped photos as the Steller sea lion flopped on the pier, surrounded by dozens of much smaller California sea lions that call the docks home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“He’s like a Volkswagen! He’s so huge!” said Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, a visitor from Los Angeles who had an extra half hour so she ran down to the pier for a hopeful peek of the elusive sea lion. “I have heard everywhere about this big giant sea lion, and I like to look at things, so just thought I’d check it out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chonkers likely came from up north off the coast of Washington or Oregon and is estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds (680 and 907 kilograms), said Laura Gill, public programs manager at The Marine Mammal Center in nearby Sausalito. Chonkers has been one of the few Steller sea lions to venture to the pier, which is protected from predators and crashing waves while providing a fish-filled buffet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s plenty of food in San Francisco Bay for them, so the fish, the rockfish, the anchovies, the herring, there’s a lot of easy prey for them,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@apnews/video/7635006173397175566\" data-video-id=\"7635006173397175566\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\">\n\u003csection> \u003ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"@apnews\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@apnews?refer=embed\">@apnews\u003c/a> A surprise guest at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is quite literally making waves. Meet Chonkers, the name given to a giant Steller sea lion spotted this week lounging among his considerably smaller California sea lion neighbors. Chonkers belongs to the Steller species, the largest of all sea lions, known for their commanding presence and dock-dominating energy. Adult males can weigh over a ton. \u003ca title=\"sealion\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/sealion?refer=embed\">#sealion\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"cuteanimals\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cuteanimals?refer=embed\">#cuteanimals\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"sanfrancisco\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/sanfrancisco?refer=embed\">#sanfrancisco\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"seal\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/seal?refer=embed\">#seal\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"california\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/california?refer=embed\">#california\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"fishermanswharf\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fishermanswharf?refer=embed\">#fishermanswharf\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"animals\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/animals?refer=embed\">#animals\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"ocean\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ocean?refer=embed\">#ocean\u003c/a> \u003ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"♬ original sound - The Associated Press\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-The-Associated-Press-7635006276820339470?refer=embed\">♬ original sound – The Associated Press\u003c/a> \u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The giant sea lion, which was first spotted on the pier last month, has brought the community together, said San Francisco resident Danielle Ovadia. “He’s so precious, and he’s quite literally humongous,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Sea lions have become synonymous with the popular tourist pier, but they didn’t start gathering there until after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, according to the marina. One lone male was quickly joined by dozens more and by February 1990, the pinniped population had grown to more than 300.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chonkers has been spotted at the docks early in the morning but is harder to pin down during the rest of the day, Gill said. She said it is endearing to watch him try to snuggle with the regular sea lions for warmth and it will be interesting to see if other Steller sea lions follow suit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He’s trying to fit in, but he sticks out like a sore thumb,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "free-dance-classes-bay-area-beginners",
"title": "7 Free Dance Classes in the Bay Area for Beginners on a Budget",
"publishDate": 1777471237,
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"headTitle": "7 Free Dance Classes in the Bay Area for Beginners on a Budget | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\" target=\"_blank\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area’s dance scene isn’t just for seasoned performers. It’s open to anyone willing to try a few new steps — and despite some high-priced courses out there, many free dance classes in the Bay Area are available at no charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As longer days and warmer weather settle in, dancing can transport you out of the winter blues. Below, find our select roundup of easy, non-committal dance classes around the Bay Area to keep your body moving. From freeform dance to group country swing dancing, there’s something for just about everyone to enjoy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988983\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 832px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988983\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Carmen.BanyanWomensCollective.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"832\" height=\"555\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Carmen.BanyanWomensCollective.jpg 832w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Carmen.BanyanWomensCollective-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Carmen.BanyanWomensCollective-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 832px) 100vw, 832px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carmen Carrasco-Arévalo of the Banyan Women’s Collective hosts free samba classes in Menlo Park. \u003ccite>(Banyan Womens Collective)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://cityofmenlopark.perfectmind.com/26116/Clients/BookMe4LandingPages/CoursesLandingPage?widgetId=96e9f6e4-7ae5-4f53-a477-23e3e6c70670&singleCalendarWidget=True&redirectedFromEmbededMode=False&courseId=48865e45-1420-48d4-a10f-366da9ffb5f0\">SalSamba in Menlo Park \u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Fridays in May, 8:30–9:25 a.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, Menlo Park \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every Friday morning during the month of May, the City of Menlo Park offers a dance class tucked between a duck pond and the library, blending salsa, samba, baile funk and funk into easy-to-follow beginner friendly routines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988993\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1440px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988993\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amapiano takes over the dancefloor at Zanzi in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Zanzi)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/amapianooak/\">Amapiano Mondays\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Mondays, 8–9 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Zanzi, Oakland \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Oakland dance club known for packed crowds on the weekends keeps the momentum going on Mondays for these free dance lessons. Instructor Tawo Nhawu breaks down the signature Amapiano groove in a beginner-friendly way, giving you the basics you’ll need for the dance party that follows at 10 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988990\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1099px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988990\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/ZumbaInParkSF.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1099\" height=\"618\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/ZumbaInParkSF.jpg 1099w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/ZumbaInParkSF-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/ZumbaInParkSF-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1099px) 100vw, 1099px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zumba in the Parks takes place all over San Francisco, from City Hall to the Excelsior. \u003ccite>(SF Recreation and Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/1183/Zumba-in-the-Parks\">Zumba in the Parks\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Various locations and times in San Francisco \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you prefer fresh air with your cardio, the City’s Zumba in the Park series brings lively dance routines to green spaces across San Francisco. Classes rotate locations and instructors, so check the schedule beforehand for details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989000\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1357\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485-1536x1042.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Patrons dance during weekly dance lessons at Jaxson, a bar in the Marina that specializes in country music, in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 24, 2018. \u003ccite>(Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXMxkpvB8HS/\">Beginner-Friendly Country Swing Dancing\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Jaxson, San Francisco \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A low-pressure weekly session at this San Francisco country bar starts with a quick, approachable lesson before opening up into a social dance. Whether you’re looking for a boost in the work week’s final stretch, or a Sunday night reset, these swing sessions double as a chance to unwind and learn something new.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988991\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1888px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988991\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1888\" height=\"714\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance.png 1888w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance-160x61.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance-768x290.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance-1536x581.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1888px) 100vw, 1888px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soul Sanctuary Dance is available either in person or livestreaming. \u003ccite>(Ashkenaz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.soulsanctuarydance.com/in-person-and-online-soul-sanctuary-dance.html\">Soul Sanctuary Dance\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Sundays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center, Berkeley\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With an emphasis on community gathering, inclusivity and expression, the long-running freeform Sunday dance session at Ashkenaz offers a hybrid dance format for participants to join either in-person or via video call from home. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own props to integrate into their choreography.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988992\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2511px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988992\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2511\" height=\"1880\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace.png 2511w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-2000x1497.png 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-160x120.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-768x575.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-1536x1150.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-2048x1533.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2511px) 100vw, 2511px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">90-minute hip-hop classes are free at Sullivan Community Space. \u003ccite>(Sullivan Community Space)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sullivancommunityspace.com/#anchors-ljen493i\">Sullivan Community Space in Oakland\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Tuesdays, 7–8:30 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Sullivan Community Space, Oakland\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This free hip-hop class is led by rotating instructors who break down the choreography step-by-step, gradually building movement over the span of 90 minutes. Each week offers a fresh dance, leaving you with a new combination in your back pocket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988989\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1100px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988989\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SJMA_OEDCA_CityDance_Cumbia_FLiang_08.18.202222-41.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SJMA_OEDCA_CityDance_Cumbia_FLiang_08.18.202222-41.jpg 1100w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SJMA_OEDCA_CityDance_Cumbia_FLiang_08.18.202222-41-160x67.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SJMA_OEDCA_CityDance_Cumbia_FLiang_08.18.202222-41-768x321.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">CityDance San Jose is a community gathering to bring people together through movement. \u003ccite>(City of San José)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjose.org/events/city-dance-2026\">CityDance San Jose\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 12–30\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Downtown San Jose \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A free summer series in downtown San Jose makes its return with live bands, outdoor dancing, and lively lessons from professional dance instructors. All dates fall in June this year, with locations and music genres still to be announced, so check back for details.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\" target=\"_blank\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area’s dance scene isn’t just for seasoned performers. It’s open to anyone willing to try a few new steps — and despite some high-priced courses out there, many free dance classes in the Bay Area are available at no charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As longer days and warmer weather settle in, dancing can transport you out of the winter blues. Below, find our select roundup of easy, non-committal dance classes around the Bay Area to keep your body moving. From freeform dance to group country swing dancing, there’s something for just about everyone to enjoy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988983\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 832px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988983\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Carmen.BanyanWomensCollective.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"832\" height=\"555\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Carmen.BanyanWomensCollective.jpg 832w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Carmen.BanyanWomensCollective-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Carmen.BanyanWomensCollective-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 832px) 100vw, 832px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carmen Carrasco-Arévalo of the Banyan Women’s Collective hosts free samba classes in Menlo Park. \u003ccite>(Banyan Womens Collective)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://cityofmenlopark.perfectmind.com/26116/Clients/BookMe4LandingPages/CoursesLandingPage?widgetId=96e9f6e4-7ae5-4f53-a477-23e3e6c70670&singleCalendarWidget=True&redirectedFromEmbededMode=False&courseId=48865e45-1420-48d4-a10f-366da9ffb5f0\">SalSamba in Menlo Park \u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Fridays in May, 8:30–9:25 a.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, Menlo Park \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every Friday morning during the month of May, the City of Menlo Park offers a dance class tucked between a duck pond and the library, blending salsa, samba, baile funk and funk into easy-to-follow beginner friendly routines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988993\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1440px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988993\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Zanzi.Amapiano-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amapiano takes over the dancefloor at Zanzi in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Zanzi)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/amapianooak/\">Amapiano Mondays\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Mondays, 8–9 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Zanzi, Oakland \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Oakland dance club known for packed crowds on the weekends keeps the momentum going on Mondays for these free dance lessons. Instructor Tawo Nhawu breaks down the signature Amapiano groove in a beginner-friendly way, giving you the basics you’ll need for the dance party that follows at 10 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988990\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1099px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988990\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/ZumbaInParkSF.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1099\" height=\"618\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/ZumbaInParkSF.jpg 1099w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/ZumbaInParkSF-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/ZumbaInParkSF-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1099px) 100vw, 1099px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zumba in the Parks takes place all over San Francisco, from City Hall to the Excelsior. \u003ccite>(SF Recreation and Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/1183/Zumba-in-the-Parks\">Zumba in the Parks\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Various locations and times in San Francisco \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you prefer fresh air with your cardio, the City’s Zumba in the Park series brings lively dance routines to green spaces across San Francisco. Classes rotate locations and instructors, so check the schedule beforehand for details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989000\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1357\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1409046485-1536x1042.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Patrons dance during weekly dance lessons at Jaxson, a bar in the Marina that specializes in country music, in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 24, 2018. \u003ccite>(Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXMxkpvB8HS/\">Beginner-Friendly Country Swing Dancing\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Jaxson, San Francisco \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A low-pressure weekly session at this San Francisco country bar starts with a quick, approachable lesson before opening up into a social dance. Whether you’re looking for a boost in the work week’s final stretch, or a Sunday night reset, these swing sessions double as a chance to unwind and learn something new.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988991\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1888px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988991\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1888\" height=\"714\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance.png 1888w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance-160x61.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance-768x290.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SoulSanctuaryDance-1536x581.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1888px) 100vw, 1888px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soul Sanctuary Dance is available either in person or livestreaming. \u003ccite>(Ashkenaz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.soulsanctuarydance.com/in-person-and-online-soul-sanctuary-dance.html\">Soul Sanctuary Dance\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Sundays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center, Berkeley\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With an emphasis on community gathering, inclusivity and expression, the long-running freeform Sunday dance session at Ashkenaz offers a hybrid dance format for participants to join either in-person or via video call from home. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own props to integrate into their choreography.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988992\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2511px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988992\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2511\" height=\"1880\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace.png 2511w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-2000x1497.png 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-160x120.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-768x575.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-1536x1150.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SullivanCommunitySpace-2048x1533.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2511px) 100vw, 2511px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">90-minute hip-hop classes are free at Sullivan Community Space. \u003ccite>(Sullivan Community Space)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sullivancommunityspace.com/#anchors-ljen493i\">Sullivan Community Space in Oakland\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Tuesdays, 7–8:30 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Sullivan Community Space, Oakland\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This free hip-hop class is led by rotating instructors who break down the choreography step-by-step, gradually building movement over the span of 90 minutes. Each week offers a fresh dance, leaving you with a new combination in your back pocket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988989\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1100px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988989\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SJMA_OEDCA_CityDance_Cumbia_FLiang_08.18.202222-41.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SJMA_OEDCA_CityDance_Cumbia_FLiang_08.18.202222-41.jpg 1100w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SJMA_OEDCA_CityDance_Cumbia_FLiang_08.18.202222-41-160x67.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/SJMA_OEDCA_CityDance_Cumbia_FLiang_08.18.202222-41-768x321.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">CityDance San Jose is a community gathering to bring people together through movement. \u003ccite>(City of San José)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjose.org/events/city-dance-2026\">CityDance San Jose\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>June 12–30\u003c/i>\u003cbr>\n\u003ci>Downtown San Jose \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A free summer series in downtown San Jose makes its return with live bands, outdoor dancing, and lively lessons from professional dance instructors. All dates fall in June this year, with locations and music genres still to be announced, so check back for details.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"radiolab": {
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"reveal": {
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
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"snap-judgment": {
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"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
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"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
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"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
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"articles": [],
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{
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"renewalDate": null,
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}
]
},
"authModal": {
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"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
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"error": null
},
"location": {
"pathname": "/arts/category/news",
"previousPathname": "/"
}
}
