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"excerpt": "Performances are set to return to the Opera House on Thursday, Sept. 24, with Verdi’s ‘Simon Boccanegra.’",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The strike at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-francisco-opera\">San Francisco Opera\u003c/a>, which resulted in five canceled performances and delayed the opening of the 2026–27 season, is set to come to an end. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera jointly announced Thursday evening that a tentative agreement on a four-year contract has been reached. Pending ratification of the contract, performances will resume at the opera house when Verdi’s \u003cem>Simon Boccanegra\u003c/em> opens on Thursday, Sept. 24.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We cannot wait to return to the pit,” said Gabe Young, the orchestra’s associate principal oboist and chair of the musicians’ negotiating committee, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfopera.com/press/press-releases/SFO-AFM-tentative-agreement/\">a statement\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are heartened to have reached a tentative deal that provides a fair contract and stability for the members of the orchestra,” Young said, adding that “we want to thank the public and Opera patrons for their patience and support through what has been a challenging process for our musicians.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/O2A6445.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13994022\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/O2A6445.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/O2A6445-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/O2A6445-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/O2A6445-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Amartuvshin Enkhbat in the title role, Aleksey Bogdanov as Paolo, Gabriel Natal-Baez as Pietro and members of the San Francisco Opera Chorus in Verdi’s ‘Simon Boccanegra.’ (Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Opera Orchestra, represented by American Federation of Musicians Local 6, had \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993840/sf-opera-opener-cancelled-opera-in-the-park-simon-boccanegra-union-contract\">been on strike since Sept. 12\u003c/a>, when the season opener of \u003cem>Simon Boccanegra\u003c/em> was canceled just a half hour before curtain. In the days since, a picket line and impromptu performances have taken place intermittently on the Opera House steps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Musicians also performed casually in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, Sept. 13, while technicians dismantled the stage for Opera in the Park, which was also canceled. San Francisco Opera also previously postponed its annual gala, originally set for Sept. 12, to Nov. 12. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, SF Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said that “I am deeply grateful that we have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract—one that addresses important structural changes while providing a fair agreement for our musicians.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both Young and Shilvock thanked Mayor Daniel Lurie, who along with Matthew Goudeau, the city’s executive director of arts and culture, got involved in negotiations shortly after the strike began. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his statement, Lurie acknowledged the rising cost of living as a working musician in San Francisco, and praised the return of opera patrons to small businesses in the neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lurie also summed up the relief felt among both parties: “Finally, we are getting those performances started again.” \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco Opera has announced the cancellation of all performances through Sept. 20 as contract negotiations between the company and the musicians union continue.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Canceled dates include the Sept. 16 and Sept. 19 performances of Giuseppe Verdi’s \u003cem>Simon Boccanegra\u003c/em> and the Sept. 20 performance of Thea Musgrave’s \u003cem>Mary, Queen of Scots\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, San Francisco Opera’s general director Matthew Shilvock expressed regret and thanked patrons for their patience. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It is heartbreaking to have to cancel additional performances, but I remain very hopeful that we will get back to the stage soon. Both the Opera and the Orchestra are working hard to reach a deal, having spent two full days and evenings negotiating immediately following the strike. Everyone at the Opera is eager to get back to doing the thing we all love: producing sublime works of art for this incredible community,” Shilvock said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993840/sf-opera-opener-cancelled-opera-in-the-park-simon-boccanegra-union-contract\">previously reported\u003c/a>, the Opera’s Sept. 12 opening night performance of \u003cem>Simon Boccanegra\u003c/em> was canceled just before curtain with an announcement from the stage at the War Memorial Opera House. The popular annual event Opera in the Park, to be held the following day, was also canceled. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Early this month, with no final contract agreement in place, San Francisco Opera rescheduled its annual gala from Sept. 12 at Nov. 12. Today’s cancellations indicate a similar preemptive safeguard. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ticketholders for the cancelled performances may \u003ca href=\"http://sfopera.com/updates\">visit the SF Opera website\u003c/a> to request a refund, exchange their tickets for an upcoming performance in the 2026–27 season or classify their ticket purchase as a donation to the Opera. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It is heartbreaking to have to cancel additional performances, but I remain very hopeful that we will get back to the stage soon. Both the Opera and the Orchestra are working hard to reach a deal, having spent two full days and evenings negotiating immediately following the strike. Everyone at the Opera is eager to get back to doing the thing we all love: producing sublime works of art for this incredible community,” Shilvock said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993840/sf-opera-opener-cancelled-opera-in-the-park-simon-boccanegra-union-contract\">previously reported\u003c/a>, the Opera’s Sept. 12 opening night performance of \u003cem>Simon Boccanegra\u003c/em> was canceled just before curtain with an announcement from the stage at the War Memorial Opera House. The popular annual event Opera in the Park, to be held the following day, was also canceled. \u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>San Francisco Opera has announced the cancellation of all performances through Sept. 20 as contract negotiations between the company and the musicians union continue.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Canceled dates include the Sept. 16 and Sept. 19 performances of Giuseppe Verdi’s \u003cem>Simon Boccanegra\u003c/em> and the Sept. 20 performance of Thea Musgrave’s \u003cem>Mary, Queen of Scots\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, San Francisco Opera’s general director Matthew Shilvock expressed regret and thanked patrons for their patience. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It is heartbreaking to have to cancel additional performances, but I remain very hopeful that we will get back to the stage soon. Both the Opera and the Orchestra are working hard to reach a deal, having spent two full days and evenings negotiating immediately following the strike. Everyone at the Opera is eager to get back to doing the thing we all love: producing sublime works of art for this incredible community,” Shilvock said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993840/sf-opera-opener-cancelled-opera-in-the-park-simon-boccanegra-union-contract\">previously reported\u003c/a>, the Opera’s Sept. 12 opening night performance of \u003cem>Simon Boccanegra\u003c/em> was canceled just before curtain with an announcement from the stage at the War Memorial Opera House. The popular annual event Opera in the Park, to be held the following day, was also canceled. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Early this month, with no final contract agreement in place, San Francisco Opera rescheduled its annual gala from Sept. 12 at Nov. 12. Today’s cancellations indicate a similar preemptive safeguard. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ticketholders for the cancelled performances may \u003ca href=\"http://sfopera.com/updates\">visit the SF Opera website\u003c/a> to request a refund, exchange their tickets for an upcoming performance in the 2026–27 season or classify their ticket purchase as a donation to the Opera. \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop.jpg\" alt=\"A rock band performs in the produce section of a grocery store. In front, the bass player wears a red velvet suit.\" class=\"wp-image-13993719\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The power pop trio Now (from left to right: Oli Lipton, Hannah Forrester and William Smith) performs a song in the produce section at Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco. The band’s set was part of “Under the Rainbow,” a new series in which the collective-owned grocery store highlights local Bay Area musicians. (Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The venue for tonight’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/concerts\">concert\u003c/a> is the produce aisle at the local supermarket. The power pop trio \u003ca href=\"https://nowww.bandcamp.com/album/now-does-the-trick\">Now’s\u003c/a> drummer, who’s set his kit up just in front of the onions and the artichokes, taps out a four count with his sticks. Then the mop-haired guitar player breaks into the opening chords of The Clash’s “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZw23sWlyG0\">Lost in the Supermarket\u003c/a>” — a winking lead-in to the first song of their set. A single shiny apple sits on top of his guitar amp.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Behold the first edition of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcyWTTMSGd9/\">Under the Rainbow\u003c/a>, Rainbow Grocery’s answer to NPR’s popular \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/\">Tiny Desk\u003c/a> concert series. Aldo de la Cruz-Falcon, a member of the collective-owned Mission District staple’s PR team, says the plan is to post these short concert videos — all filmed on site in the market’s produce section — on social media every other week. The idea is to highlight Bay Area indie bands while also showing a different side to your friendly neighborhood grocery store. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DcyWTTMSGd9/\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Something about Rainbow that’s different from other grocers is that we’re part of the community,” de la Cruz-Falcon says. “We’re a co-op; we’re not owned by billionaires. We like to do things for the community.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>De la Cruz-Falcon, who also works in Rainbow’s bulk foods department, says he was first inspired to put the project together after seeing a similar concert series at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fiestafreshmarket/\">Fiesta Fresh Market\u003c/a>, a Latino grocery in Delaware, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DZECt3tuvUD/\">go viral\u003c/a> earlier this year. He teamed up with coworkers Britta Leijonflycht (vitamins) and Nico DeEulio (herbs), both avid musicians themselves, to organize the first edition of Under the Rainbow, reaching out to local bands to come to the store for an unconventional recording session. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a Saturday night in August, four bands showed up ready to rock: the aforementioned \u003ca href=\"https://nowww.bandcamp.com/album/now-does-the-trick\">Now\u003c/a>, the shoegaze-inflected indie pop collective \u003ca href=\"https://aprilmagazine.bandcamp.com/album/double-life-beat\">April Magazine\u003c/a>, gothic cumbia crooner \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/edgarmusicx/\">Edgar\u003c/a> and folk punk singer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mistermodee/\">Ryan Modee\u003c/a>. Now’s set is the only video that Rainbow Grocery has posted so far. It will release the others every other Wednesday morning.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under the Rainbow does differ from the Tiny Desk series (which in recent months has featured everyone from \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/25/g-s1-126162/shaboozey-tiny-desk-concert\">Shaboozey\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/20/g-s1-136140/weird-al-yankovic-tiny-desk-concert\">“Weird Al” Yankovic\u003c/a>), in a few important ways. Most notably, at least for now, the musicians won’t be playing in front of a live audience, other than a handful of grocery store workers and the other bands in attendance. The logistics of doing a live show inside the supermarket during business hours felt too daunting, de la Cruz-Falcon explains — especially not knowing how unsuspecting customers might respond, and not wanting to make any other workers’ jobs more difficult.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee.jpg\" alt=\"A musician, seated in the produce section of a grocery store, plays the guitar.\" class=\"wp-image-13993723\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Punk folk singer Ryan Modee performs with a pineapple on his guitar amp. (Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the time being, the project will mostly consist of videos shared on Rainbow Grocery’s YouTube and Instagram accounts. For the first session, the four bands — plus sound engineer Dylan Edrich — arrived at the supermarket shortly after its 9 p.m. closing time. By the time each band finished playing and recording its three-song set, it was around 2 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>William Smith, guitar player and singer for Now, says the idea of performing inside a grocery store was immediately appealing and a natural fit for his band’s DIY aesthetic — they’d done previous shows on highway overpasses and inside vintage clothing stores. (Coincidentally, drummer Oliver Lipton’s father had worked at Rainbow Grocery in the ’80s, so there was a nostalgic personal connection as well.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I love pop art, and I thought, what could be more pop art than having our band play in a grocery store?” Smith explains. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Smith, the whole experience felt like a dream. “It was surreal, like it was such an odd place to be wheeling my amp into,” he says. But everyone was so professional and kind — and the snacks, of course, were second to none. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I ate a really good apple,” he recalls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For viewers watching the final product on YouTube, the surprising contrast between the vibe of the performance and its homey, lo-fi, out-of-the-studio setting is exactly what makes it so appealing. And the response, already, has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1332\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar.jpg\" alt=\"Two musicians in gray suits performing in the produce section of a grocery store. The man in sunglasses on the left dances energetically. \" class=\"wp-image-13993724\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar.jpg 1332w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-1023x1536.jpg 1023w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1332px) 100vw, 1332px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Edgar (left) dances during his gothic cumbia set. (Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Within a couple of days, more than 3,000 people liked the initial \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjJ9lVsYGw/\">trailer for the series\u003c/a> that Rainbow Grocery posted; nearly 75,000 viewed the video. (“It’s probably some of the best exposure we’ve gotten,” Smith says.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>De la Cruz-Falcon says one of the other exciting things about the project is that so many of the worker-owners at Rainbow Grocery are talented musicians, many of whom have their own bands. He hopes some of those bands will play at future Under the Rainbow recording sessions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The next one will happen sometime in October, and the store is in the process of putting an application link up on its website. “Everybody’s welcome to submit,” de la Cruz-Falcon says. “We would love to have all kinds of music.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" />\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Rainbow Grocery will release new Under the Rainbow videos every other Wednesday morning — full sets on \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@rainbow-grocery\">\u003cem>YouTube\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and clips on \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjJ9lVsYGw/\">\u003cem>Instagram\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. The next edition, featuring \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DdEiK8uyqJI/\">April Magazine\u003c/a>, will come out on Sept. 16.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop.jpg\" alt=\"A rock band performs in the produce section of a grocery store. In front, the bass player wears a red velvet suit.\" class=\"wp-image-13993719\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The power pop trio Now (from left to right: Oli Lipton, Hannah Forrester and William Smith) performs a song in the produce section at Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco. The band’s set was part of “Under the Rainbow,” a new series in which the collective-owned grocery store highlights local Bay Area musicians.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>De la Cruz-Falcon, who also works in Rainbow’s bulk foods department, says he was first inspired to put the project together after seeing a similar concert series at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fiestafreshmarket/\">Fiesta Fresh Market\u003c/a>, a Latino grocery in Delaware, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DZECt3tuvUD/\">go viral\u003c/a> earlier this year. He teamed up with coworkers Britta Leijonflycht (vitamins) and Nico DeEulio (herbs), both avid musicians themselves, to organize the first edition of Under the Rainbow, reaching out to local bands to come to the store for an unconventional recording session. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On a Saturday night in August, four bands showed up ready to rock: the aforementioned \u003ca href=\"https://nowww.bandcamp.com/album/now-does-the-trick\">Now\u003c/a>, the shoegaze-inflected indie pop collective \u003ca href=\"https://aprilmagazine.bandcamp.com/album/double-life-beat\">April Magazine\u003c/a>, gothic cumbia crooner \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/edgarmusicx/\">Edgar\u003c/a> and folk punk singer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mistermodee/\">Ryan Modee\u003c/a>. Now’s set is the only video that Rainbow Grocery has posted so far. It will release the others every other Wednesday morning.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On a Saturday night in August, four bands showed up ready to rock: the aforementioned \u003ca href=\"https://nowww.bandcamp.com/album/now-does-the-trick\">Now\u003c/a>, the shoegaze-inflected indie pop collective \u003ca href=\"https://aprilmagazine.bandcamp.com/album/double-life-beat\">April Magazine\u003c/a>, gothic cumbia crooner \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/edgarmusicx/\">Edgar\u003c/a> and folk punk singer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mistermodee/\">Ryan Modee\u003c/a>. Now’s set is the only video that Rainbow Grocery has posted so far. It will release the others every other Wednesday morning.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Under the Rainbow does differ from the Tiny Desk series (which in recent months has featured everyone from \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/25/g-s1-126162/shaboozey-tiny-desk-concert\">Shaboozey\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/20/g-s1-136140/weird-al-yankovic-tiny-desk-concert\">“Weird Al” Yankovic\u003c/a>), in a few important ways. Most notably, at least for now, the musicians won’t be playing in front of a live audience, other than a handful of grocery store workers and the other bands in attendance. The logistics of doing a live show inside the supermarket during business hours felt too daunting, de la Cruz-Falcon explains — especially not knowing how unsuspecting customers might respond, and not wanting to make any other workers’ jobs more difficult.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the time being, the project will mostly consist of videos shared on Rainbow Grocery’s YouTube and Instagram accounts. For the first session, the four bands — plus sound engineer Dylan Edrich — arrived at the supermarket shortly after its 9 p.m. closing time. By the time each band finished playing and recording its three-song set, it was around 2 a.m.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For the time being, the project will mostly consist of videos shared on Rainbow Grocery’s YouTube and Instagram accounts. For the first session, the four bands — plus sound engineer Dylan Edrich — arrived at the supermarket shortly after its 9 p.m. closing time. By the time each band finished playing and recording its three-song set, it was around 2 a.m.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>William Smith, guitar player and singer for Now, says the idea of performing inside a grocery store was immediately appealing and a natural fit for his band’s DIY aesthetic — they’d done previous shows on highway overpasses and inside vintage clothing stores. (Coincidentally, drummer Oliver Lipton’s father had worked at Rainbow Grocery in the ’80s, so there was a nostalgic personal connection as well.)\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>William Smith, guitar player and singer for Now, says the idea of performing inside a grocery store was immediately appealing and a natural fit for his band’s DIY aesthetic — they’d done previous shows on highway overpasses and inside vintage clothing stores. (Coincidentally, drummer Oliver Lipton’s father had worked at Rainbow Grocery in the ’80s, so there was a nostalgic personal connection as well.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I love pop art, and I thought, what could be more pop art than having our band play in a grocery store?” Smith explains. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Smith, the whole experience felt like a dream. “It was surreal, like it was such an odd place to be wheeling my amp into,” he says. But everyone was so professional and kind — and the snacks, of course, were second to none. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For Smith, the whole experience felt like a dream. “It was surreal, like it was such an odd place to be wheeling my amp into,” he says. But everyone was so professional and kind — and the snacks, of course, were second to none. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For viewers watching the final product on YouTube, the surprising contrast between the vibe of the performance and its homey, lo-fi, out-of-the-studio setting is exactly what makes it so appealing. And the response, already, has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For viewers watching the final product on YouTube, the surprising contrast between the vibe of the performance and its homey, lo-fi, out-of-the-studio setting is exactly what makes it so appealing. And the response, already, has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar.jpg\" alt=\"Two musicians in gray suits performing in the produce section of a grocery store. The man in sunglasses on the left dances energetically. \" class=\"wp-image-13993724\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar.jpg 1332w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-1023x1536.jpg 1023w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Edgar (left) dances during his gothic cumbia set.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Within a couple of days, more than 3,000 people liked the initial \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjJ9lVsYGw/\">trailer for the series\u003c/a> that Rainbow Grocery posted; nearly 75,000 viewed the video. (“It’s probably some of the best exposure we’ve gotten,” Smith says.)\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Within a couple of days, more than 3,000 people liked the initial \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjJ9lVsYGw/\">trailer for the series\u003c/a> that Rainbow Grocery posted; nearly 75,000 viewed the video. (“It’s probably some of the best exposure we’ve gotten,” Smith says.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>De la Cruz-Falcon says one of the other exciting things about the project is that so many of the worker-owners at Rainbow Grocery are talented musicians, many of whom have their own bands. He hopes some of those bands will play at future Under the Rainbow recording sessions. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>De la Cruz-Falcon says one of the other exciting things about the project is that so many of the worker-owners at Rainbow Grocery are talented musicians, many of whom have their own bands. He hopes some of those bands will play at future Under the Rainbow recording sessions. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The next one will happen sometime in October, and the store is in the process of putting an application link up on its website. “Everybody’s welcome to submit,” de la Cruz-Falcon says. “We would love to have all kinds of music.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The next one will happen sometime in October, and the store is in the process of putting an application link up on its website. “Everybody’s welcome to submit,” de la Cruz-Falcon says. “We would love to have all kinds of music.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Rainbow Grocery will release new Under the Rainbow videos every other Wednesday morning — full sets on \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@rainbow-grocery\">\u003cem>YouTube\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and clips on \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjJ9lVsYGw/\">\u003cem>Instagram\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. The next edition, featuring \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DdEiK8uyqJI/\">April Magazine\u003c/a>, will come out on Sept. 16.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop.jpg\" alt=\"A rock band performs in the produce section of a grocery store. In front, the bass player wears a red velvet suit.\" class=\"wp-image-13993719\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-now-crop-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The power pop trio Now (from left to right: Oli Lipton, Hannah Forrester and William Smith) performs a song in the produce section at Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco. The band’s set was part of “Under the Rainbow,” a new series in which the collective-owned grocery store highlights local Bay Area musicians. (Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The venue for tonight’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/concerts\">concert\u003c/a> is the produce aisle at the local supermarket. The power pop trio \u003ca href=\"https://nowww.bandcamp.com/album/now-does-the-trick\">Now’s\u003c/a> drummer, who’s set his kit up just in front of the onions and the artichokes, taps out a four count with his sticks. Then the mop-haired guitar player breaks into the opening chords of The Clash’s “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZw23sWlyG0\">Lost in the Supermarket\u003c/a>” — a winking lead-in to the first song of their set. A single shiny apple sits on top of his guitar amp.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Behold the first edition of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcyWTTMSGd9/\">Under the Rainbow\u003c/a>, Rainbow Grocery’s answer to NPR’s popular \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/\">Tiny Desk\u003c/a> concert series. Aldo de la Cruz-Falcon, a member of the collective-owned Mission District staple’s PR team, says the plan is to post these short concert videos — all filmed on site in the market’s produce section — on social media every other week. The idea is to highlight Bay Area indie bands while also showing a different side to your friendly neighborhood grocery store. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Something about Rainbow that’s different from other grocers is that we’re part of the community,” de la Cruz-Falcon says. “We’re a co-op; we’re not owned by billionaires. We like to do things for the community.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>De la Cruz-Falcon, who also works in Rainbow’s bulk foods department, says he was first inspired to put the project together after seeing a similar concert series at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fiestafreshmarket/\">Fiesta Fresh Market\u003c/a>, a Latino grocery in Delaware, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DZECt3tuvUD/\">go viral\u003c/a> earlier this year. He teamed up with coworkers Britta Leijonflycht (vitamins) and Nico DeEulio (herbs), both avid musicians themselves, to organize the first edition of Under the Rainbow, reaching out to local bands to come to the store for an unconventional recording session. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a Saturday night in August, four bands showed up ready to rock: the aforementioned \u003ca href=\"https://nowww.bandcamp.com/album/now-does-the-trick\">Now\u003c/a>, the shoegaze-inflected indie pop collective \u003ca href=\"https://aprilmagazine.bandcamp.com/album/double-life-beat\">April Magazine\u003c/a>, gothic cumbia crooner \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/edgarmusicx/\">Edgar\u003c/a> and folk punk singer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mistermodee/\">Ryan Modee\u003c/a>. Now’s set is the only video that Rainbow Grocery has posted so far. It will release the others every other Wednesday morning.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under the Rainbow does differ from the Tiny Desk series (which in recent months has featured everyone from \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/25/g-s1-126162/shaboozey-tiny-desk-concert\">Shaboozey\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/20/g-s1-136140/weird-al-yankovic-tiny-desk-concert\">“Weird Al” Yankovic\u003c/a>), in a few important ways. Most notably, at least for now, the musicians won’t be playing in front of a live audience, other than a handful of grocery store workers and the other bands in attendance. The logistics of doing a live show inside the supermarket during business hours felt too daunting, de la Cruz-Falcon explains — especially not knowing how unsuspecting customers might respond, and not wanting to make any other workers’ jobs more difficult.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee.jpg\" alt=\"A musician, seated in the produce section of a grocery store, plays the guitar.\" class=\"wp-image-13993723\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-ryan-modee-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Punk folk singer Ryan Modee performs with a pineapple on his guitar amp. (Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the time being, the project will mostly consist of videos shared on Rainbow Grocery’s YouTube and Instagram accounts. For the first session, the four bands — plus sound engineer Dylan Edrich — arrived at the supermarket shortly after its 9 p.m. closing time. By the time each band finished playing and recording its three-song set, it was around 2 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>William Smith, guitar player and singer for Now, says the idea of performing inside a grocery store was immediately appealing and a natural fit for his band’s DIY aesthetic — they’d done previous shows on highway overpasses and inside vintage clothing stores. (Coincidentally, drummer Oliver Lipton’s father had worked at Rainbow Grocery in the ’80s, so there was a nostalgic personal connection as well.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I love pop art, and I thought, what could be more pop art than having our band play in a grocery store?” Smith explains. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Smith, the whole experience felt like a dream. “It was surreal, like it was such an odd place to be wheeling my amp into,” he says. But everyone was so professional and kind — and the snacks, of course, were second to none. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I ate a really good apple,” he recalls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For viewers watching the final product on YouTube, the surprising contrast between the vibe of the performance and its homey, lo-fi, out-of-the-studio setting is exactly what makes it so appealing. And the response, already, has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1332\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar.jpg\" alt=\"Two musicians in gray suits performing in the produce section of a grocery store. The man in sunglasses on the left dances energetically. \" class=\"wp-image-13993724\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar.jpg 1332w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rainbow-grocery-edgar-1023x1536.jpg 1023w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1332px) 100vw, 1332px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Edgar (left) dances during his gothic cumbia set. (Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Within a couple of days, more than 3,000 people liked the initial \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjJ9lVsYGw/\">trailer for the series\u003c/a> that Rainbow Grocery posted; nearly 75,000 viewed the video. (“It’s probably some of the best exposure we’ve gotten,” Smith says.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>De la Cruz-Falcon says one of the other exciting things about the project is that so many of the worker-owners at Rainbow Grocery are talented musicians, many of whom have their own bands. He hopes some of those bands will play at future Under the Rainbow recording sessions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The next one will happen sometime in October, and the store is in the process of putting an application link up on its website. “Everybody’s welcome to submit,” de la Cruz-Falcon says. “We would love to have all kinds of music.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" />\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Rainbow Grocery will release new Under the Rainbow videos every other Wednesday morning — full sets on \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@rainbow-grocery\">\u003cem>YouTube\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and clips on \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjJ9lVsYGw/\">\u003cem>Instagram\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. The next edition, featuring \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DdEiK8uyqJI/\">April Magazine\u003c/a>, will come out on Sept. 16.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "young-bari-bosslife-big-spence-thats-a-playa",
"title": "How Young Bari and BossLife Big Spence’s ‘That's a Playa’ Took Over the Bay",
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"headTitle": "How Young Bari and BossLife Big Spence’s ‘That’s a Playa’ Took Over the Bay | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Our current era is full of songs that become hits after going viral on TikTok. Meanwhile, since August of 2025, Oakland’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bosslifebigspence/\">BossLife Big Spence\u003c/a> and San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/y0ungbari/?hl=en\">Young Bari\u003c/a> have worked their hit song “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOg-IMiT-oU\">That’s a Playa\u003c/a>” like it’s the old days.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They’ve done local radio hits and traveled for features on \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpHRNcxgBQM\">national video platforms\u003c/a>. They’ve made made guest appearances at major events, like E-40’s recent set at the Oakland Arena and a Levi’s Super Bowl event in February. They even tapped rap legends \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRtSJHRx1YE\">Richie Rich, Too Short and E-40\u003c/a> for a remix, extending the song’s longevity.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, on Sept. 7, Spence and Bari are set to headline the second stage at the 14th annual \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13991284/hiero-day-2026-san-francisco-lineup-expansion-la-canada\">Hiero Day\u003c/a>, closing out a show with a lineup of talent that includes Mereba, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Killer Mike.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While many artists typically drop songs and then pray the algorithm helps them catch a wave, Spence and Bari say taking a single track and going on a “campaign” with it is the reason for its success. They even got a special shout out from one of the most popular comedians of the past two decades, Mike Epps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DXHe0AzgaVO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It all started with a video of Epps responding to a question about which artists he’s listening to right now. Between mentions of Kendrick Lamar and Fetty P. Franklin,”It’s a young dude out of the Bay right now named Young Bari,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.tmz.com/watch/mike-epps-odell-beckham-jr-kendrick-lamar-12-04-2025/\">Epps says\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When I seen that,” Bari tells me, “I was like, ‘I gotta make a clip of this instantly and post it, so people can know we \u003cem>moving\u003c/em> right now!'”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weeks later, when Epps was scheduled to come to the Bay for a show at Tommy T’s Comedy Club in Concord with an afterparty at Oakland’s M2 lounge, he told Spence, “Bro, we finna go pull up on Mike.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Not only did they meet the award-winning actor and former host of HBO’s \u003cem>Def Comedy Jam\u003c/em>, they performed that same night. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m talking about a real campaign, bro,” Bari says, explaining their grind over the past year. “We was running it up,” he exclaims. “Whatever we had to do to get the record out, we did it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOg-IMiT-oU\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Spence, who made the original version of the song while working with producer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/payseanprod/\">PAY$EAN\u003c/a>, points out an important aspect of their promotion: it’s all been out of their own pockets. “We really put our all into the record,” says Spence, “and I think the results you see are the results of that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though they’re both Bay Area-raised students of hip-hop, the two artists come from different eras.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Spence, who started as a producer before stepping to the mic, has made his mark with tracks like “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brbOTU5TiKY\">The Deal\u003c/a>”by DaBoii (feat. Drakeo the Ruler) and “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuHpLZRRYIk\">Pimpin’ Like Kenny Red\u003c/a>” by Too Short (feat. Larry June). “I had a little success with my first single that I ever dropped, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5i4Sa2a7k4\">10K,\u003c/a>’” he says. “But the success of ‘That’s a Playa’ is totally different.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That kind of success is a new experience for Spence. But Bari has been here before.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a 10th grader at Berkeley High School, Spence saw Bari perform his classic track, “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JjvzlpNiH0&list=RD8JjvzlpNiH0&start_radio=1\">So Mobby\u003c/a>.” At the time, Spence hadn’t been to many concerts, and “definitely no rap concerts,” he says. “So when [Bari] did that, I was just so impacted. I was like, ‘Man, one day I got to have it.'”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A recently shared \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcSB_hCt_d2/\">video of Bari performing in 2009 \u003c/a>shows just how lit audiences would get when “So Mobby” would come kabobulating through the speakers. Referenced in the 2012 \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-iC-irllqY&list=RDg-iC-irllqY&start_radio=1\">E-40 track “Function”\u003c/a> (feat. YG, Problem and IamSu!), the song still holds its weight in the Bay Area hall of game. And Bari’s stage show is partially to credit for it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I grew up in the turf dancing era,” he says. “If you was in the party being a wallflower, you getting cooked, you feel me?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bari, who recently released the P-Lo-produced song “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkejTZUV1-U\">IN TRAFFIC\u003c/a>” (feat. Keak Da Sneak and DB Tha General) as well as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPE-8ide9Ig\">MOBBY MIYAZAKI\u003c/a>” (a re-interpolation of “So Mobby” with Seiji Oda), possesses dance moves that entertain his peers and simultaneously pay homage to his Frisco roots.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Get Low,” he says, “that’s a neighborhood dance. My uncle \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVMSAkfEn99/\">J.D. Walker made that dance\u003c/a>.” The key to hitting The Get Low, says Bari, is energy. “It’s a feeling.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And it’s that same energy that led him to working with Big Spence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Three men in a recording studio, posing for a photo.\" class=\"wp-image-13993588\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rapper Young Bari, producer Pay$ean and rapper-producer BossLife Big Spence pose for a photo at the On The Radar studio in New York. (Courtesy of BossLife Big Spence)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While visiting the producer and going through beats, Spence played an unfinished version of “That’s a Playa.” Bari instantly felt it. “I seen the vision,” he says. “I heard the energy of it and I was like this is \u003cem>that sound\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Between the mobby beat, Spence’s flossy lyrics and catchy hook, Bari could tell Spence was having fun in the studio. That’s the most important ingredient in making a song to dance to, Bari says: freeing yourself, and being unbothered by thoughts of going viral, or worry of any negative critiques. “You gotta cat off in the booth,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And, clearly, after you’re done having fun recording, you go to work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With 12 months under their belts of pushing the song, their Hiero Day performance is big. While Bari has rocked the festival’s stage multiple times, Spence has only done so as a DJ. And for him, this year’s show is deeper than rap, as his late father was a huge fan of Hieroglyphics and Souls of Mischief.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Everywhere I go I take him with me; every stage I’m on,” says Spence in respect to his father. “Plus I was born in ’93. So ‘93 ’til Infinity,’ that’s my jam.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" />\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>BossLife Big Spence and Young Bari perform Monday, Sept. 7, as part of Hiero Day at The Midway (900 Marin St, San Francisco). \u003ca href=\"https://www.hieroday.com/\">Tickets and more information here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It all started with a video of Epps responding to a question about which artists he’s listening to right now. Between mentions of Kendrick Lamar and Fetty P. Franklin,”It’s a young dude out of the Bay right now named Young Bari,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.tmz.com/watch/mike-epps-odell-beckham-jr-kendrick-lamar-12-04-2025/\">Epps says\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When I seen that,” Bari tells me, “I was like, ‘I gotta make a clip of this instantly and post it, so people can know we \u003cem>moving\u003c/em> right now!'”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weeks later, when Epps was scheduled to come to the Bay for a show at Tommy T’s Comedy Club in Concord with an afterparty at Oakland’s M2 lounge, he told Spence, “Bro, we finna go pull up on Mike.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m talking about a real campaign, bro,” Bari says, explaining their grind over the past year. “We was running it up,” he exclaims. “Whatever we had to do to get the record out, we did it.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Spence, who made the original version of the song while working with producer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/payseanprod/\">PAY$EAN\u003c/a>, points out an important aspect of their promotion: it’s all been out of their own pockets. “We really put our all into the record,” says Spence, “and I think the results you see are the results of that.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Though they’re both Bay Area-raised students of hip-hop, the two artists come from different eras.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Spence, who started as a producer before stepping to the mic, has made his mark with tracks like “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brbOTU5TiKY\">The Deal\u003c/a>”by DaBoii (feat. Drakeo the Ruler) and “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuHpLZRRYIk\">Pimpin’ Like Kenny Red\u003c/a>” by Too Short (feat. Larry June). “I had a little success with my first single that I ever dropped, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5i4Sa2a7k4\">10K,\u003c/a>’” he says. “But the success of ‘That’s a Playa’ is totally different.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That kind of success is a new experience for Spence. But Bari has been here before.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As a 10th grader at Berkeley High School, Spence saw Bari perform his classic track, “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JjvzlpNiH0&list=RD8JjvzlpNiH0&start_radio=1\">So Mobby\u003c/a>.” At the time, Spence hadn’t been to many concerts, and “definitely no rap concerts,” he says. “So when [Bari] did that, I was just so impacted. I was like, ‘Man, one day I got to have it.'”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A recently shared \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcSB_hCt_d2/\">video of Bari performing in 2009 \u003c/a>shows just how lit audiences would get when “So Mobby” would come kabobulating through the speakers. Referenced in the 2012 \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-iC-irllqY&list=RDg-iC-irllqY&start_radio=1\">E-40 track “Function”\u003c/a> (feat. YG, Problem and IamSu!), the song still holds its weight in the Bay Area hall of game. And Bari’s stage show is partially to credit for it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I grew up in the turf dancing era,” he says. “If you was in the party being a wallflower, you getting cooked, you feel me?” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bari, who recently released the P-Lo-produced song “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkejTZUV1-U\">IN TRAFFIC\u003c/a>” (feat. Keak Da Sneak and DB Tha General) as well as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPE-8ide9Ig\">MOBBY MIYAZAKI\u003c/a>” (a re-interpolation of “So Mobby” with Seiji Oda), possesses dance moves that entertain his peers and simultaneously pay homage to his Frisco roots.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The Get Low,” he says, “that’s a neighborhood dance. My uncle \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVMSAkfEn99/\">J.D. Walker made that dance\u003c/a>.” The key to hitting The Get Low, says Bari, is energy. “It’s a feeling.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Three men in a recording studio, posing for a photo.\" class=\"wp-image-13993588\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rapper Young Bari, producer Pay$ean and rapper-producer BossLife Big Spence pose for a photo at the On The Radar studio in New York. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of BossLife Big Spence)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While visiting the producer and going through beats, Spence played an unfinished version of “That’s a Playa.” Bari instantly felt it. “I seen the vision,” he says. “I heard the energy of it and I was like this is \u003cem>that sound\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Between the mobby beat, Spence’s flossy lyrics and catchy hook, Bari could tell Spence was having fun in the studio. That’s the most important ingredient in making a song to dance to, Bari says: freeing yourself, and being unbothered by thoughts of going viral, or worry of any negative critiques. “You gotta cat off in the booth,” he says.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Between the mobby beat, Spence’s flossy lyrics and catchy hook, Bari could tell Spence was having fun in the studio. That’s the most important ingredient in making a song to dance to, Bari says: freeing yourself, and being unbothered by thoughts of going viral, or worry of any negative critiques. “You gotta cat off in the booth,” he says.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And, clearly, after you’re done having fun recording, you go to work.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With 12 months under their belts of pushing the song, their Hiero Day performance is big. While Bari has rocked the festival’s stage multiple times, Spence has only done so as a DJ. And for him, this year’s show is deeper than rap, as his late father was a huge fan of Hieroglyphics and Souls of Mischief.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Everywhere I go I take him with me; every stage I’m on,” says Spence in respect to his father. “Plus I was born in ’93. So ‘93 ’til Infinity,’ that’s my jam.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Everywhere I go I take him with me; every stage I’m on,” says Spence in respect to his father. “Plus I was born in ’93. So ‘93 ’til Infinity,’ that’s my jam.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>BossLife Big Spence and Young Bari perform Monday, Sept. 7, as part of Hiero Day at The Midway (900 Marin St, San Francisco). \u003ca href=\"https://www.hieroday.com/\">Tickets and more information here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>BossLife Big Spence and Young Bari perform Monday, Sept. 7, as part of Hiero Day at The Midway (900 Marin St, San Francisco). \u003ca href=\"https://www.hieroday.com/\">Tickets and more information here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "After a 12-month campaign of working the song into a hit, the duo headlines the second stage at Hiero Day.",
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"title": "How Young Bari and BossLife Big Spence’s ‘That's a Playa’ Took Over the Bay | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Our current era is full of songs that become hits after going viral on TikTok. Meanwhile, since August of 2025, Oakland’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bosslifebigspence/\">BossLife Big Spence\u003c/a> and San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/y0ungbari/?hl=en\">Young Bari\u003c/a> have worked their hit song “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOg-IMiT-oU\">That’s a Playa\u003c/a>” like it’s the old days.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They’ve done local radio hits and traveled for features on \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpHRNcxgBQM\">national video platforms\u003c/a>. They’ve made made guest appearances at major events, like E-40’s recent set at the Oakland Arena and a Levi’s Super Bowl event in February. They even tapped rap legends \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRtSJHRx1YE\">Richie Rich, Too Short and E-40\u003c/a> for a remix, extending the song’s longevity.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, on Sept. 7, Spence and Bari are set to headline the second stage at the 14th annual \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13991284/hiero-day-2026-san-francisco-lineup-expansion-la-canada\">Hiero Day\u003c/a>, closing out a show with a lineup of talent that includes Mereba, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Killer Mike.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While many artists typically drop songs and then pray the algorithm helps them catch a wave, Spence and Bari say taking a single track and going on a “campaign” with it is the reason for its success. They even got a special shout out from one of the most popular comedians of the past two decades, Mike Epps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It all started with a video of Epps responding to a question about which artists he’s listening to right now. Between mentions of Kendrick Lamar and Fetty P. Franklin,”It’s a young dude out of the Bay right now named Young Bari,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.tmz.com/watch/mike-epps-odell-beckham-jr-kendrick-lamar-12-04-2025/\">Epps says\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When I seen that,” Bari tells me, “I was like, ‘I gotta make a clip of this instantly and post it, so people can know we \u003cem>moving\u003c/em> right now!'”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weeks later, when Epps was scheduled to come to the Bay for a show at Tommy T’s Comedy Club in Concord with an afterparty at Oakland’s M2 lounge, he told Spence, “Bro, we finna go pull up on Mike.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Not only did they meet the award-winning actor and former host of HBO’s \u003cem>Def Comedy Jam\u003c/em>, they performed that same night. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m talking about a real campaign, bro,” Bari says, explaining their grind over the past year. “We was running it up,” he exclaims. “Whatever we had to do to get the record out, we did it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/tOg-IMiT-oU'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/tOg-IMiT-oU'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Spence, who made the original version of the song while working with producer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/payseanprod/\">PAY$EAN\u003c/a>, points out an important aspect of their promotion: it’s all been out of their own pockets. “We really put our all into the record,” says Spence, “and I think the results you see are the results of that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though they’re both Bay Area-raised students of hip-hop, the two artists come from different eras.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Spence, who started as a producer before stepping to the mic, has made his mark with tracks like “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brbOTU5TiKY\">The Deal\u003c/a>”by DaBoii (feat. Drakeo the Ruler) and “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuHpLZRRYIk\">Pimpin’ Like Kenny Red\u003c/a>” by Too Short (feat. Larry June). “I had a little success with my first single that I ever dropped, ‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5i4Sa2a7k4\">10K,\u003c/a>’” he says. “But the success of ‘That’s a Playa’ is totally different.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That kind of success is a new experience for Spence. But Bari has been here before.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a 10th grader at Berkeley High School, Spence saw Bari perform his classic track, “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JjvzlpNiH0&list=RD8JjvzlpNiH0&start_radio=1\">So Mobby\u003c/a>.” At the time, Spence hadn’t been to many concerts, and “definitely no rap concerts,” he says. “So when [Bari] did that, I was just so impacted. I was like, ‘Man, one day I got to have it.'”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A recently shared \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcSB_hCt_d2/\">video of Bari performing in 2009 \u003c/a>shows just how lit audiences would get when “So Mobby” would come kabobulating through the speakers. Referenced in the 2012 \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-iC-irllqY&list=RDg-iC-irllqY&start_radio=1\">E-40 track “Function”\u003c/a> (feat. YG, Problem and IamSu!), the song still holds its weight in the Bay Area hall of game. And Bari’s stage show is partially to credit for it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I grew up in the turf dancing era,” he says. “If you was in the party being a wallflower, you getting cooked, you feel me?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bari, who recently released the P-Lo-produced song “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkejTZUV1-U\">IN TRAFFIC\u003c/a>” (feat. Keak Da Sneak and DB Tha General) as well as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPE-8ide9Ig\">MOBBY MIYAZAKI\u003c/a>” (a re-interpolation of “So Mobby” with Seiji Oda), possesses dance moves that entertain his peers and simultaneously pay homage to his Frisco roots.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Get Low,” he says, “that’s a neighborhood dance. My uncle \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVMSAkfEn99/\">J.D. Walker made that dance\u003c/a>.” The key to hitting The Get Low, says Bari, is energy. “It’s a feeling.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And it’s that same energy that led him to working with Big Spence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Three men in a recording studio, posing for a photo.\" class=\"wp-image-13993588\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Young-Bari-Payean-and-BossLife-Big-Spence-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rapper Young Bari, producer Pay$ean and rapper-producer BossLife Big Spence pose for a photo at the On The Radar studio in New York. (Courtesy of BossLife Big Spence)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While visiting the producer and going through beats, Spence played an unfinished version of “That’s a Playa.” Bari instantly felt it. “I seen the vision,” he says. “I heard the energy of it and I was like this is \u003cem>that sound\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Between the mobby beat, Spence’s flossy lyrics and catchy hook, Bari could tell Spence was having fun in the studio. That’s the most important ingredient in making a song to dance to, Bari says: freeing yourself, and being unbothered by thoughts of going viral, or worry of any negative critiques. “You gotta cat off in the booth,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And, clearly, after you’re done having fun recording, you go to work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With 12 months under their belts of pushing the song, their Hiero Day performance is big. While Bari has rocked the festival’s stage multiple times, Spence has only done so as a DJ. And for him, this year’s show is deeper than rap, as his late father was a huge fan of Hieroglyphics and Souls of Mischief.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Everywhere I go I take him with me; every stage I’m on,” says Spence in respect to his father. “Plus I was born in ’93. So ‘93 ’til Infinity,’ that’s my jam.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" />\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>BossLife Big Spence and Young Bari perform Monday, Sept. 7, as part of Hiero Day at The Midway (900 Marin St, San Francisco). \u003ca href=\"https://www.hieroday.com/\">Tickets and more information here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "pokemon-world-championships-in-san-francisco-fandom",
"title": "At Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, Whimsical Fandom Shines",
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"content": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993462\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An attendee poses for a photo at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hours before last Thursday’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-giants\">San Francisco Giants\u003c/a> game at Oracle Park, eager fans lingered near the gates. They weren’t waiting to see the game, or to catch fly balls. Instead, they came to catch Pikachu at \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pokemon-worlds-night\">Pokémon Worlds Night\u003c/a> — a Giants celebration of Pokémon fandom with a Pikachu-Giants jersey giveaway and a dazzling post-game drone show. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>The night included a stadium-sized sing-along of the Pokémon theme song, and Giants players huddling in the dugout to rip open packs of Pokémon trading cards and compare custom airbrushed Charizard cleats.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These festivities helped kick off San Francisco’s citywide embrace of the Japanese anime juggernaut, which took over the town Friday through Sunday for the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP hosted at Moscone Center.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993447\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rio (from left), Natsuki and Rina, from Japan, pose for a photo at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The event — an annual rotating spectacle featuring the globe’s largest Pokémon gaming tournament, a fan convention, and experiential activations galore — attracted over 50,000 badged attendees and nearly 3,000 competitors from across 54 countries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since its founding in 2004, the event has been held in the Bay Area just twice. According to convention organizers, this year’s San Francisco edition was the best and biggest to date. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fans certainly agreed. And for those visiting the region with their quirky fandom, they felt right at home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993457\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jacqueline (left) and Jessica at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003cbr> (left) and Jessica (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area seems very whimsical and accepting of other people and lifestyles. I want to live here,” said \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fableddarling/?hl=en\">Fableddarling\u003c/a>, a cosplayer who traveled from North Carolina to the Bay Area for the first time for the event. Fableddarling wore an elaborate homemade outfit of Alcremie, a fairy-type Pokémon character made of whipped cream and strawberries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Others weren’t sure what to expect from San Francisco, having been fed a doom-loop narrative about the city before arriving. One Hawaiian couple, Taka and Kat — dressed as Team Star villains from \u003cem>Pokémon Violet\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Scarlet\u003c/em> — had mixed expectations of the city.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We had family members saying things like ‘Don’t die’ when we told them we were going to San Francisco,” Kat said. That myth was quickly dispelled for the couple after riding in a self-driving vehicle for the first time and gorging on regional staples like clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993456\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kat (left) and Taka of Hawaii, dressed as team star, pose for a photo in Yerba Buena Gardens during the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Naturally, a few criticisms arose. Complaints about long lines and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/shut-down-pokemon-worlds-22410240.php\">a safety issue with the San Francisco Fire Marshal\u003c/a> underscored frustrations over event logistics. One eventgoer, Vivian, who commuted from Manteca, admitted she “wouldn’t have picked San Francisco” as the host city because of the city’s inconveniences with parking and crime.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the vast majority of Pokémon fans seemed happy with the city, and the many ways it pitched in the weekend celebration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On site, musicians like Trevor Strohl of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/characterselectband/\">Character Select\u003c/a>, a local jazz band that riffs off video game soundtracks, wandered around Moscone Center’s main plaza while belting out saxophone solos of Pokémon tunes upon request. Off site, small local businesses like \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcg_C4pASEC/?hl=en&img_index=1\">Joe’s Ice Cream\u003c/a> went viral for turning their scoops of ice cream into Pokémon characters for the weekend. Dumpling Time’s San Francisco locations added \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcq3vkjTfF_/\">Poke-Bao (egg yolk) and Pika-Bao (barbecue pork)\u003c/a> to their weekend menus, taking the form of Pokéballs and Pikachus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993460\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Longtime San Francisco resident Eddie Castro wore his special-edition Levi’s jean jacket with a Pikachu emblazoned upon the back; after collecting his World Championship pins, he planned to attend a social hour with \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lookoutsf/?hl=en\">Pokémon-inspired cocktails and card battles at Lookout\u003c/a> in the Castro.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the bravest enthusiasts, Golf Leaf Ink hosted a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dcb73yZSwBN/\">“Gotta Tat ’Em All” Pokémon flash tattoo party\u003c/a> for those wanting to permanently catch their favorite fictional creatures. (Did this writer briefly consider inking a \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/machamp\">Machamp\u003c/a>? Maybe.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even the niche intersection of California skateboarding culture and Pokémon fandom was evident. Santa Cruz Skateboards installed a half pipe in front of Moscone Center, and brought their team of professional skaters to ride special edition Pokémon decks in celebration of their \u003ca href=\"https://santacruzskateboards.com/pokemon\">30th Anniversary Pokémon collaboration\u003c/a>. Additionally, a limited-edition Bear Walker-designed Pikachu cruiser board was among the most highly coveted items of the event — costing $350 and available only after being selected through a rigorous lottery process.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993449\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Santa Cruz Skateboards designed like Pokémon cards on display at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I already got offered $1,000 in cash for this, but I’m a skater; I’m not here to scalp or make money [from reselling],” said Zach Brookins, a former Bay Area resident who drove up from his hometown in San Diego for a chance to acquire the skateboard. “I’m going to ride this board into the ground. I’m going to put my dirty feet all over Pikachu this weekend.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the adults-only crowd, visiting burlesque dancers \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thejessicanova/?hl=en\">Jessica Nova\u003c/a> and Bon Bon were dressed for the occasion as they strolled the grounds in their risqué garb. For them, San Francisco remains a nexus for the strange, unexpected fandoms within nerd culture (think drag shows that feature dragon-type Pokémon like “Drag-onite”).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Of course, the Pokémon takeover wasn’t just for nostalgic, endorphin-seeking adults. The entirety of Yerba Buena Gardens was transformed into a Pokémon-ized outdoor clearing with activities, giveaways and a kids area for infants and toddlers dressed as miniature Evees, Tertwigs and Mimikyus while a massive inflated Pikachu overlooked.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993461\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Pikachu dance is performed during the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most endearing element of the weekend was the intergenerational aspect of Pokémon fandom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alvaro Perez, along with his wife Karina (who was costumed as Umbreon), flew in from Mexico City to cheer on their adolescent son, Hernan, who competed among the world’s best “trainers.” Ricky, a Bernal Heights local who dressed up as Ash Ketchum, brought his teenage son for the experience; as lowrider aficionados, they particularly appreciated the bright yellow, Pikachu-styled 1950s Cadillac convertible on display. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For families like these, the convention offered an opportunity to pass down a lifelong fandom to future gamers and fans. Though corporate brands like Build-A-Bear, Crocs and Nintendo were visibly promoting new products, it didn’t overtake the sincerity of a nerdy, lovable experience in an inviting, eccentric atmosphere.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993463\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pikachu characters sit on top of a replica of the golden gate bridge which stands over the entrance to the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/the8bitbigband/?hl=en\">8-Bit Big Band\u003c/a> orchestra blasted out theme song tributes for each major Pokémon installment from the past 30 years, images of Pokémon exploring San Francisco’s attractions could be seen — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/rayquaza\">Rayquaza\u003c/a>-themed cable car on Howard Street, a remixed Fisherman’s Wharf sign with \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/krabby\">Krabby\u003c/a> as the logo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In that sense, there may not be another city in the world with as perfect a backdrop for catching Pokémon as right here in the Bay. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“San Francisco felt like a natural fit given its status as one of the best cities in the world,” Nick Salazar of the Pokémon Company International told KQED. “We were here 10 years ago, so returning to San Francisco, and bringing an even larger event to the city, feels particularly special.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hours before last Thursday’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-giants\">San Francisco Giants\u003c/a> game at Oracle Park, eager fans lingered near the gates. They weren’t waiting to see the game, or to catch fly balls. Instead, they came to catch Pikachu at \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pokemon-worlds-night\">Pokémon Worlds Night\u003c/a> — a Giants celebration of Pokémon fandom with a Pikachu-Giants jersey giveaway and a dazzling post-game drone show. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>The night included a stadium-sized sing-along of the Pokémon theme song, and Giants players huddling in the dugout to rip open packs of Pokémon trading cards and compare custom airbrushed Charizard cleats.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The event — an annual rotating spectacle featuring the globe’s largest Pokémon gaming tournament, a fan convention, and experiential activations galore — attracted over 50,000 badged attendees and nearly 3,000 competitors from across 54 countries.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Since its founding in 2004, the event has been held in the Bay Area just twice. According to convention organizers, this year’s San Francisco edition was the best and biggest to date. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The fans certainly agreed. And for those visiting the region with their quirky fandom, they felt right at home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993457\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jacqueline (left) and Jessica at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003cbr> (left) and Jessica\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993457\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jacqueline (left) and Jessica at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003cbr> (left) and Jessica\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area seems very whimsical and accepting of other people and lifestyles. I want to live here,” said \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fableddarling/?hl=en\">Fableddarling\u003c/a>, a cosplayer who traveled from North Carolina to the Bay Area for the first time for the event. Fableddarling wore an elaborate homemade outfit of Alcremie, a fairy-type Pokémon character made of whipped cream and strawberries.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area seems very whimsical and accepting of other people and lifestyles. I want to live here,” said \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fableddarling/?hl=en\">Fableddarling\u003c/a>, a cosplayer who traveled from North Carolina to the Bay Area for the first time for the event. Fableddarling wore an elaborate homemade outfit of Alcremie, a fairy-type Pokémon character made of whipped cream and strawberries.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Others weren’t sure what to expect from San Francisco, having been fed a doom-loop narrative about the city before arriving. One Hawaiian couple, Taka and Kat — dressed as Team Star villains from \u003cem>Pokémon Violet\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Scarlet\u003c/em> — had mixed expectations of the city.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Others weren’t sure what to expect from San Francisco, having been fed a doom-loop narrative about the city before arriving. One Hawaiian couple, Taka and Kat — dressed as Team Star villains from \u003cem>Pokémon Violet\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Scarlet\u003c/em> — had mixed expectations of the city.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We had family members saying things like ‘Don’t die’ when we told them we were going to San Francisco,” Kat said. That myth was quickly dispelled for the couple after riding in a self-driving vehicle for the first time and gorging on regional staples like clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We had family members saying things like ‘Don’t die’ when we told them we were going to San Francisco,” Kat said. That myth was quickly dispelled for the couple after riding in a self-driving vehicle for the first time and gorging on regional staples like clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993456\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kat (left) and Taka of Hawaii, dressed as team star, pose for a photo in Yerba Buena Gardens during the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993456\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kat (left) and Taka of Hawaii, dressed as team star, pose for a photo in Yerba Buena Gardens during the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Naturally, a few criticisms arose. Complaints about long lines and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/shut-down-pokemon-worlds-22410240.php\">a safety issue with the San Francisco Fire Marshal\u003c/a> underscored frustrations over event logistics. One eventgoer, Vivian, who commuted from Manteca, admitted she “wouldn’t have picked San Francisco” as the host city because of the city’s inconveniences with parking and crime.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Naturally, a few criticisms arose. Complaints about long lines and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/shut-down-pokemon-worlds-22410240.php\">a safety issue with the San Francisco Fire Marshal\u003c/a> underscored frustrations over event logistics. One eventgoer, Vivian, who commuted from Manteca, admitted she “wouldn’t have picked San Francisco” as the host city because of the city’s inconveniences with parking and crime.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the vast majority of Pokémon fans seemed happy with the city, and the many ways it pitched in the weekend celebration.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On site, musicians like Trevor Strohl of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/characterselectband/\">Character Select\u003c/a>, a local jazz band that riffs off video game soundtracks, wandered around Moscone Center’s main plaza while belting out saxophone solos of Pokémon tunes upon request. Off site, small local businesses like \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcg_C4pASEC/?hl=en&img_index=1\">Joe’s Ice Cream\u003c/a> went viral for turning their scoops of ice cream into Pokémon characters for the weekend. Dumpling Time’s San Francisco locations added \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcq3vkjTfF_/\">Poke-Bao (egg yolk) and Pika-Bao (barbecue pork)\u003c/a> to their weekend menus, taking the form of Pokéballs and Pikachus.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On site, musicians like Trevor Strohl of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/characterselectband/\">Character Select\u003c/a>, a local jazz band that riffs off video game soundtracks, wandered around Moscone Center’s main plaza while belting out saxophone solos of Pokémon tunes upon request. Off site, small local businesses like \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcg_C4pASEC/?hl=en&img_index=1\">Joe’s Ice Cream\u003c/a> went viral for turning their scoops of ice cream into Pokémon characters for the weekend. Dumpling Time’s San Francisco locations added \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcq3vkjTfF_/\">Poke-Bao (egg yolk) and Pika-Bao (barbecue pork)\u003c/a> to their weekend menus, taking the form of Pokéballs and Pikachus.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993460\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993460\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Longtime San Francisco resident Eddie Castro wore his special-edition Levi’s jean jacket with a Pikachu emblazoned upon the back; after collecting his World Championship pins, he planned to attend a social hour with \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lookoutsf/?hl=en\">Pokémon-inspired cocktails and card battles at Lookout\u003c/a> in the Castro.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Longtime San Francisco resident Eddie Castro wore his special-edition Levi’s jean jacket with a Pikachu emblazoned upon the back; after collecting his World Championship pins, he planned to attend a social hour with \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lookoutsf/?hl=en\">Pokémon-inspired cocktails and card battles at Lookout\u003c/a> in the Castro.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the bravest enthusiasts, Golf Leaf Ink hosted a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dcb73yZSwBN/\">“Gotta Tat ’Em All” Pokémon flash tattoo party\u003c/a> for those wanting to permanently catch their favorite fictional creatures. (Did this writer briefly consider inking a \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/machamp\">Machamp\u003c/a>? Maybe.)\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For the bravest enthusiasts, Golf Leaf Ink hosted a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dcb73yZSwBN/\">“Gotta Tat ’Em All” Pokémon flash tattoo party\u003c/a> for those wanting to permanently catch their favorite fictional creatures. (Did this writer briefly consider inking a \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/machamp\">Machamp\u003c/a>? Maybe.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Even the niche intersection of California skateboarding culture and Pokémon fandom was evident. Santa Cruz Skateboards installed a half pipe in front of Moscone Center, and brought their team of professional skaters to ride special edition Pokémon decks in celebration of their \u003ca href=\"https://santacruzskateboards.com/pokemon\">30th Anniversary Pokémon collaboration\u003c/a>. Additionally, a limited-edition Bear Walker-designed Pikachu cruiser board was among the most highly coveted items of the event — costing $350 and available only after being selected through a rigorous lottery process.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Even the niche intersection of California skateboarding culture and Pokémon fandom was evident. Santa Cruz Skateboards installed a half pipe in front of Moscone Center, and brought their team of professional skaters to ride special edition Pokémon decks in celebration of their \u003ca href=\"https://santacruzskateboards.com/pokemon\">30th Anniversary Pokémon collaboration\u003c/a>. Additionally, a limited-edition Bear Walker-designed Pikachu cruiser board was among the most highly coveted items of the event — costing $350 and available only after being selected through a rigorous lottery process.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993449\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Santa Cruz Skateboards designed like Pokémon cards on display at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993449\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Santa Cruz Skateboards designed like Pokémon cards on display at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I already got offered $1,000 in cash for this, but I’m a skater; I’m not here to scalp or make money [from reselling],” said Zach Brookins, a former Bay Area resident who drove up from his hometown in San Diego for a chance to acquire the skateboard. “I’m going to ride this board into the ground. I’m going to put my dirty feet all over Pikachu this weekend.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I already got offered $1,000 in cash for this, but I’m a skater; I’m not here to scalp or make money [from reselling],” said Zach Brookins, a former Bay Area resident who drove up from his hometown in San Diego for a chance to acquire the skateboard. “I’m going to ride this board into the ground. I’m going to put my dirty feet all over Pikachu this weekend.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the adults-only crowd, visiting burlesque dancers \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thejessicanova/?hl=en\">Jessica Nova\u003c/a> and Bon Bon were dressed for the occasion as they strolled the grounds in their risqué garb. For them, San Francisco remains a nexus for the strange, unexpected fandoms within nerd culture (think drag shows that feature dragon-type Pokémon like “Drag-onite”).\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For the adults-only crowd, visiting burlesque dancers \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thejessicanova/?hl=en\">Jessica Nova\u003c/a> and Bon Bon were dressed for the occasion as they strolled the grounds in their risqué garb. For them, San Francisco remains a nexus for the strange, unexpected fandoms within nerd culture (think drag shows that feature dragon-type Pokémon like “Drag-onite”).\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Of course, the Pokémon takeover wasn’t just for nostalgic, endorphin-seeking adults. The entirety of Yerba Buena Gardens was transformed into a Pokémon-ized outdoor clearing with activities, giveaways and a kids area for infants and toddlers dressed as miniature Evees, Tertwigs and Mimikyus while a massive inflated Pikachu overlooked.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Of course, the Pokémon takeover wasn’t just for nostalgic, endorphin-seeking adults. The entirety of Yerba Buena Gardens was transformed into a Pokémon-ized outdoor clearing with activities, giveaways and a kids area for infants and toddlers dressed as miniature Evees, Tertwigs and Mimikyus while a massive inflated Pikachu overlooked.\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993461\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Pikachu dance is performed during the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most endearing element of the weekend was the intergenerational aspect of Pokémon fandom.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Alvaro Perez, along with his wife Karina (who was costumed as Umbreon), flew in from Mexico City to cheer on their adolescent son, Hernan, who competed among the world’s best “trainers.” Ricky, a Bernal Heights local who dressed up as Ash Ketchum, brought his teenage son for the experience; as lowrider aficionados, they particularly appreciated the bright yellow, Pikachu-styled 1950s Cadillac convertible on display. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Alvaro Perez, along with his wife Karina (who was costumed as Umbreon), flew in from Mexico City to cheer on their adolescent son, Hernan, who competed among the world’s best “trainers.” Ricky, a Bernal Heights local who dressed up as Ash Ketchum, brought his teenage son for the experience; as lowrider aficionados, they particularly appreciated the bright yellow, Pikachu-styled 1950s Cadillac convertible on display. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For families like these, the convention offered an opportunity to pass down a lifelong fandom to future gamers and fans. Though corporate brands like Build-A-Bear, Crocs and Nintendo were visibly promoting new products, it didn’t overtake the sincerity of a nerdy, lovable experience in an inviting, eccentric atmosphere.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For families like these, the convention offered an opportunity to pass down a lifelong fandom to future gamers and fans. Though corporate brands like Build-A-Bear, Crocs and Nintendo were visibly promoting new products, it didn’t overtake the sincerity of a nerdy, lovable experience in an inviting, eccentric atmosphere.\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993463\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pikachu characters sit on top of a replica of the golden gate bridge which stands over the entrance to the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/the8bitbigband/?hl=en\">8-Bit Big Band\u003c/a> orchestra blasted out theme song tributes for each major Pokémon installment from the past 30 years, images of Pokémon exploring San Francisco’s attractions could be seen — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/rayquaza\">Rayquaza\u003c/a>-themed cable car on Howard Street, a remixed Fisherman’s Wharf sign with \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/krabby\">Krabby\u003c/a> as the logo.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/the8bitbigband/?hl=en\">8-Bit Big Band\u003c/a> orchestra blasted out theme song tributes for each major Pokémon installment from the past 30 years, images of Pokémon exploring San Francisco’s attractions could be seen — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/rayquaza\">Rayquaza\u003c/a>-themed cable car on Howard Street, a remixed Fisherman’s Wharf sign with \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/krabby\">Krabby\u003c/a> as the logo.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In that sense, there may not be another city in the world with as perfect a backdrop for catching Pokémon as right here in the Bay. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“San Francisco felt like a natural fit given its status as one of the best cities in the world,” Nick Salazar of the Pokémon Company International told KQED. “We were here 10 years ago, so returning to San Francisco, and bringing an even larger event to the city, feels particularly special.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“San Francisco felt like a natural fit given its status as one of the best cities in the world,” Nick Salazar of the Pokémon Company International told KQED. “We were here 10 years ago, so returning to San Francisco, and bringing an even larger event to the city, feels particularly special.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Pokémon-inspired skateboards, jazz bands, burlesque dancers — San Francisco was catching ’em all.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993462\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-96-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An attendee poses for a photo at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hours before last Thursday’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-giants\">San Francisco Giants\u003c/a> game at Oracle Park, eager fans lingered near the gates. They weren’t waiting to see the game, or to catch fly balls. Instead, they came to catch Pikachu at \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pokemon-worlds-night\">Pokémon Worlds Night\u003c/a> — a Giants celebration of Pokémon fandom with a Pikachu-Giants jersey giveaway and a dazzling post-game drone show. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>The night included a stadium-sized sing-along of the Pokémon theme song, and Giants players huddling in the dugout to rip open packs of Pokémon trading cards and compare custom airbrushed Charizard cleats.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These festivities helped kick off San Francisco’s citywide embrace of the Japanese anime juggernaut, which took over the town Friday through Sunday for the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP hosted at Moscone Center.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993447\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-37-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rio (from left), Natsuki and Rina, from Japan, pose for a photo at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The event — an annual rotating spectacle featuring the globe’s largest Pokémon gaming tournament, a fan convention, and experiential activations galore — attracted over 50,000 badged attendees and nearly 3,000 competitors from across 54 countries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since its founding in 2004, the event has been held in the Bay Area just twice. According to convention organizers, this year’s San Francisco edition was the best and biggest to date. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fans certainly agreed. And for those visiting the region with their quirky fandom, they felt right at home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993457\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-73-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jacqueline (left) and Jessica at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003cbr> (left) and Jessica (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area seems very whimsical and accepting of other people and lifestyles. I want to live here,” said \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fableddarling/?hl=en\">Fableddarling\u003c/a>, a cosplayer who traveled from North Carolina to the Bay Area for the first time for the event. Fableddarling wore an elaborate homemade outfit of Alcremie, a fairy-type Pokémon character made of whipped cream and strawberries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Others weren’t sure what to expect from San Francisco, having been fed a doom-loop narrative about the city before arriving. One Hawaiian couple, Taka and Kat — dressed as Team Star villains from \u003cem>Pokémon Violet\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Scarlet\u003c/em> — had mixed expectations of the city.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We had family members saying things like ‘Don’t die’ when we told them we were going to San Francisco,” Kat said. That myth was quickly dispelled for the couple after riding in a self-driving vehicle for the first time and gorging on regional staples like clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993456\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-71-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kat (left) and Taka of Hawaii, dressed as team star, pose for a photo in Yerba Buena Gardens during the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Naturally, a few criticisms arose. Complaints about long lines and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/shut-down-pokemon-worlds-22410240.php\">a safety issue with the San Francisco Fire Marshal\u003c/a> underscored frustrations over event logistics. One eventgoer, Vivian, who commuted from Manteca, admitted she “wouldn’t have picked San Francisco” as the host city because of the city’s inconveniences with parking and crime.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the vast majority of Pokémon fans seemed happy with the city, and the many ways it pitched in the weekend celebration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On site, musicians like Trevor Strohl of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/characterselectband/\">Character Select\u003c/a>, a local jazz band that riffs off video game soundtracks, wandered around Moscone Center’s main plaza while belting out saxophone solos of Pokémon tunes upon request. Off site, small local businesses like \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcg_C4pASEC/?hl=en&img_index=1\">Joe’s Ice Cream\u003c/a> went viral for turning their scoops of ice cream into Pokémon characters for the weekend. Dumpling Time’s San Francisco locations added \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcq3vkjTfF_/\">Poke-Bao (egg yolk) and Pika-Bao (barbecue pork)\u003c/a> to their weekend menus, taking the form of Pokéballs and Pikachus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993460\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-88-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Longtime San Francisco resident Eddie Castro wore his special-edition Levi’s jean jacket with a Pikachu emblazoned upon the back; after collecting his World Championship pins, he planned to attend a social hour with \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lookoutsf/?hl=en\">Pokémon-inspired cocktails and card battles at Lookout\u003c/a> in the Castro.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the bravest enthusiasts, Golf Leaf Ink hosted a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dcb73yZSwBN/\">“Gotta Tat ’Em All” Pokémon flash tattoo party\u003c/a> for those wanting to permanently catch their favorite fictional creatures. (Did this writer briefly consider inking a \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/machamp\">Machamp\u003c/a>? Maybe.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even the niche intersection of California skateboarding culture and Pokémon fandom was evident. Santa Cruz Skateboards installed a half pipe in front of Moscone Center, and brought their team of professional skaters to ride special edition Pokémon decks in celebration of their \u003ca href=\"https://santacruzskateboards.com/pokemon\">30th Anniversary Pokémon collaboration\u003c/a>. Additionally, a limited-edition Bear Walker-designed Pikachu cruiser board was among the most highly coveted items of the event — costing $350 and available only after being selected through a rigorous lottery process.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993449\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-41-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Santa Cruz Skateboards designed like Pokémon cards on display at the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I already got offered $1,000 in cash for this, but I’m a skater; I’m not here to scalp or make money [from reselling],” said Zach Brookins, a former Bay Area resident who drove up from his hometown in San Diego for a chance to acquire the skateboard. “I’m going to ride this board into the ground. I’m going to put my dirty feet all over Pikachu this weekend.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the adults-only crowd, visiting burlesque dancers \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thejessicanova/?hl=en\">Jessica Nova\u003c/a> and Bon Bon were dressed for the occasion as they strolled the grounds in their risqué garb. For them, San Francisco remains a nexus for the strange, unexpected fandoms within nerd culture (think drag shows that feature dragon-type Pokémon like “Drag-onite”).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Of course, the Pokémon takeover wasn’t just for nostalgic, endorphin-seeking adults. The entirety of Yerba Buena Gardens was transformed into a Pokémon-ized outdoor clearing with activities, giveaways and a kids area for infants and toddlers dressed as miniature Evees, Tertwigs and Mimikyus while a massive inflated Pikachu overlooked.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993461\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-94-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Pikachu dance is performed during the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most endearing element of the weekend was the intergenerational aspect of Pokémon fandom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alvaro Perez, along with his wife Karina (who was costumed as Umbreon), flew in from Mexico City to cheer on their adolescent son, Hernan, who competed among the world’s best “trainers.” Ricky, a Bernal Heights local who dressed up as Ash Ketchum, brought his teenage son for the experience; as lowrider aficionados, they particularly appreciated the bright yellow, Pikachu-styled 1950s Cadillac convertible on display. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For families like these, the convention offered an opportunity to pass down a lifelong fandom to future gamers and fans. Though corporate brands like Build-A-Bear, Crocs and Nintendo were visibly promoting new products, it didn’t overtake the sincerity of a nerdy, lovable experience in an inviting, eccentric atmosphere.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993463\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260828-PokemonWorldChampionships-NG-97-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pikachu characters sit on top of a replica of the golden gate bridge which stands over the entrance to the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/the8bitbigband/?hl=en\">8-Bit Big Band\u003c/a> orchestra blasted out theme song tributes for each major Pokémon installment from the past 30 years, images of Pokémon exploring San Francisco’s attractions could be seen — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/rayquaza\">Rayquaza\u003c/a>-themed cable car on Howard Street, a remixed Fisherman’s Wharf sign with \u003ca href=\"https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/krabby\">Krabby\u003c/a> as the logo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In that sense, there may not be another city in the world with as perfect a backdrop for catching Pokémon as right here in the Bay. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“San Francisco felt like a natural fit given its status as one of the best cities in the world,” Nick Salazar of the Pokémon Company International told KQED. “We were here 10 years ago, so returning to San Francisco, and bringing an even larger event to the city, feels particularly special.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "best-matcha-bay-area-oakland-berkeley-sf-san-jose",
"title": "11 Vibrant Bay Area Matcha Cafes to Keep You Well Caffeinated",
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"headTitle": "11 Vibrant Bay Area Matcha Cafes to Keep You Well Caffeinated | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">2026 Fall Arts Guide\u003c/a> to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These days, every young person in the Bay Area seems to be walking around with some variation of the same green drink: matcha. Traditionally made by whisking finely ground green tea leaves with hot water, the beverage has been used for ceremonial practices in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/japanese-food\">Japan\u003c/a> for thousands of years. Over the past decade, however, the vibrant drink has taken America by storm. The United States now imports \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2PpIvUKwo\">over 2,000 tons\u003c/a> of matcha per year, turning the tea powder into drinks, ice cream treats and even skin care products. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here in the Bay, it feels like a new matcha cafe or matcha-forward coffee shop opens almost every day. Each place offers its own take on the drink, whether it be a latte with your choice of milk, an obsessively sweet concoction of cookie butters and banana puddings, or a simple americano.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Matcha, like life, is all about balance. I spent the past several weeks trying many of the Bay Area’s hundreds of matcha cafes. Here are some of my favorites. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>EAST BAY: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a cup of iced coffee topped with a layer of pale green matcha cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993215\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The matcha americano with cream top at Yume Mori on August 21, 2026, in Berkeley. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/yumemori.matcha/\">Yume Mori \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2319 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jazz plays inside this minimalist cafe located in a line of popular matcha cafes near UC Berkeley. The spot is hard to miss because there is always a crowd of people waiting outside — tweens holding mom’s spot in line while she searches for a parking space.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yume Mori is one of the few shops where customers get to choose a specific regional variety of matcha for your drink, each one boasting a different flavor profile. The cafe also serves matcha soft serve, matcha crepes and house specialties like clear matcha (made with coconut water and topped with matcha cream) and genmaicha lattes (made with green tea blended with roasted rice). The matcha here has a vibrant color and taste, but if you don’t care for those intense nutty and astringent flavors, there are also sweeter options like tiramisu, yuzu miso and cold brew options. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mindcoffee.ca/\">Mind Coffee\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1816 Euclid Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Away from the traffic of the busier parts of Berkeley sits Mind Coffee, a popular study spot for students on the north side of campus. Mind has a large selection of coffee, teas and pastries, and the matcha drinks, in particular, are some of the most creative in the Bay. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Einspänners are especially popular here. These froth-topped drinks, named after a type of horse-drawn carriage, originated in Vienna, Austria. But they’d been a fixture in Korean dramas for years by the time they made their way to the States. Einspänners are traditionally a coffee drink, but Mind features less common versions like an Earl Grey matcha Einspänner latte (which tastes a bit like a sweet, syrupy bowl of cereal) and an iced matcha sakura Einspänner with pink milk, which transports you into a forest of cherry blossom trees.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte on a sun-dappled wooden table.\" class=\"wp-image-13993222\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte from Kitsch Coffee in Oakland on Aug. 20, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kitschcoffeeoakland/\">Kitsch Coffee\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>590 2nd St., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kitsch Coffee shares space with a vintage furniture and home goods store in Jack London Square. The big open space is always full with people working behind laptops, chatting with friends or sifting through racks of vintage clothes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kitsch is a coffee shop, but the place takes matcha seriously. Matcha here is bright green and can be amped up with housemade syrups with flavors like ginger and lavender. The carrot cake matcha even comes with a cream cheese foam to mimic the frosting on a slice of cake. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveofmatchacafe/\">For the Love of Matcha\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Grand Lake Farmers Market (Grand Avenue and Lake Park Avenue, Oakland)\u003cbr>Temescal Farmers Market (5300 Claremont Ave., Oakland)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This weekly pop-up at the Grand Lake and Temescal farmers markets closes once it sells out, so it’s best to arrive early. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The menu rotates based on the season. For summer, they have sweet corn, fig, vanilla and the forever favorite strawberry matcha latte. The farmers market stand is popular, so oftentimes you’ll find many of the flavors crossed out in permanent marker. The Matchacano is my go-to drink, but you can always up the flavor with their seasonal syrups and cream tops. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding matcha soft serve ice cream on a sugar cone.\" class=\"wp-image-13993225\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer holds a matcha-and-vanilla swirl soft serve ice cream cone from Urban Matcha in Castro Valley on Aug. 20, 2026 (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/urbanmatcha.castrovalley/\">Urban Matcha \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3311 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A hidden gem in suburban Castro Valley, Urban Matcha provides a matcha oasis in a somewhat unlikely part of the Bay. At 7 p.m. on a recent Tuesday evening, the cafe was full of chatty teens, people finding a calm place to get work done and families ending their night with their favorite sweet treats. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Part of a chain that extends from California to Las Vegas, the cafe is especially notable for its matcha-flavored desserts. This is the kind of place where every other customer walks out with their hands full of matcha parfaits loaded with agar jelly, corn flakes, matcha gelato, red bean paste, mochi balls and a big scoop of matcha soft serve. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>SAN FRANCISCO: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/constance.tea/\">Constance Tea\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3512 Balboa St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Located on Balboa Street, in the Outer Richmond, Constance Tea is the only place in San Francisco where tea leaves are stone-milled into matcha in house. This new shop isn’t the place to find the drinks that satisfy your sweet tooth. Instead, Constance focuses on the basics: a small selection of hōjicha (roasted green tea), Einspänners and traditional matcha drinks made with matcha sourced from various regions in Japan, showcasing different flavor profiles. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During a recent visit, my matcha americano was a vivid green, perfectly balanced between earthiness and a nutty aftertaste, with a cream top that provided just the right amount of milkiness to complement the grassy taste of the tea. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Two customers side by side holding creamy matcha drinks.\" class=\"wp-image-13993221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers hold their matcha drinks at Ceré Tea on Valencia Street in San Francisco on Aug. 20, 2026. The tea shop specializes in matcha and hōjicha drinks. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cereteaxyz/\">Ceré Tea \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1186 Valencia St., San Francisco (and other locations)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This popular matcha spot in the Mission, with locations throughout the Bay Area, has all the makings for a viral cafe, with its full-body selfie mirror and minimalist design. The menu puts matcha and hōjicha at the forefront, featuring drinks infused with yuzu, ube, guava and more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The matcha leans toward the brighter and more bitter side, but you can always sweeten the deal with a banana or crème brûlée cream top. Trendy offerings like Einspänners and cheese cream toppings are also available. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matchacafemaiko/\">Matcha Café Maiko \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1581 Webster St., San Francisco (and other locations)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This wildly popular Honolulu-based chain has become a Bay Area mall staple. It’s a quick, convenient and portable way to take your matcha to go. Big chains often don’t maintain their quality, but Maiko is always consistent, offering a convenient option to grab your matcha on the go. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perfect for a matcha beginner, the shop is known for its wide variety of matcha desserts:soft serves, shaved ices, parfaits, frappes and floats. The matcha here strikes just the right balance of sweetness and rich matcha flavor, providing the best caffeine boost after a day at the mall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A matcha drink with white swirls of crème brûlée–flavored cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993424\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The crème brûlée matcha swirl at Izumi Matcha in San Mateo on Aug. 27, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/izumi.matcha/\">Izumi Matcha \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>180 E. 3rd Ave. Unit 100A, San Mateo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With three locations in the Peninsula and South Bay, Izumi is one of the only cafes in the US that \u003ca href=\"https://izumimatcha.com/premium-matcha-powder/\">sources its matcha from Marukyu Koyamaen\u003c/a>, a highly regarded producer in Uji, Japan. Inside, the walls are lined with tins of the Marukyu matcha powder, along with tea kettles, matcha serving bowls and matcha whisks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The broad menu of teas and desserts really highlight the quality of the matcha itself. The matcha latte options include trendy flavors like a crème brûlée swirl that adds an element of creaminess as a counterpoint to the bright matcha flavor. In addition to the drinks, the shop also offers a diverse selection of matcha- and tea-flavored ice creams — everything from ube to “intense matcha.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/aroma.cct/\">Aroma\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3005 Silver Creek Rd. Ste. 150, San José\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This East San José tea, coffee and chè shop sells a wide variety of Vietnamese-inspired coffee and tea drinks. Matcha is the powerhouse of the menu, available in 10 different flavors, many of them featuring Southeast Asian ingredients like pandan, guava, banana cream and mango sticky rice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The matcha at Aroma is strong, but not overpoweringly bitter. The quality of the tea shines through even when paired with thick, sweet, syrupy banana, mango and yuzu puddings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A matcha parfait in a sundae glass, layered with fresh strawberries and ice cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993421\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Another view of the matcha strawberry parfait at Matsu Matcha. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matsumatcha.usa/\">Matsu Matcha\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3030 El Camino Real, Santa Clara\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> A calm oasis located inside a busy shopping plaza in Santa Clara, Matsu serves bright green matcha in many different formats. The cafe’s extensive menu offers matcha gelato (available in five levels of increasing intensity, plus a seasonal flavor), matcha floats, matcha flights and much more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The matcha flights are a good option for customers who have trouble deciding. They feature a triple dose of matcha, a matcha latte with matcha cream on top, a seasonal matcha (guava during my recent visit) and a matcha float (available in flavors like grape and dark chocolate). \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">2026 Fall Arts Guide\u003c/a> to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">2026 Fall Arts Guide\u003c/a> to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These days, every young person in the Bay Area seems to be walking around with some variation of the same green drink: matcha. Traditionally made by whisking finely ground green tea leaves with hot water, the beverage has been used for ceremonial practices in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/japanese-food\">Japan\u003c/a> for thousands of years. Over the past decade, however, the vibrant drink has taken America by storm. The United States now imports \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2PpIvUKwo\">over 2,000 tons\u003c/a> of matcha per year, turning the tea powder into drinks, ice cream treats and even skin care products. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>These days, every young person in the Bay Area seems to be walking around with some variation of the same green drink: matcha. Traditionally made by whisking finely ground green tea leaves with hot water, the beverage has been used for ceremonial practices in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/japanese-food\">Japan\u003c/a> for thousands of years. Over the past decade, however, the vibrant drink has taken America by storm. The United States now imports \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2PpIvUKwo\">over 2,000 tons\u003c/a> of matcha per year, turning the tea powder into drinks, ice cream treats and even skin care products. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Here in the Bay, it feels like a new matcha cafe or matcha-forward coffee shop opens almost every day. Each place offers its own take on the drink, whether it be a latte with your choice of milk, an obsessively sweet concoction of cookie butters and banana puddings, or a simple americano.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Here in the Bay, it feels like a new matcha cafe or matcha-forward coffee shop opens almost every day. Each place offers its own take on the drink, whether it be a latte with your choice of milk, an obsessively sweet concoction of cookie butters and banana puddings, or a simple americano.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Matcha, like life, is all about balance. I spent the past several weeks trying many of the Bay Area’s hundreds of matcha cafes. Here are some of my favorites. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Matcha, like life, is all about balance. I spent the past several weeks trying many of the Bay Area’s hundreds of matcha cafes. Here are some of my favorites. \u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "EAST BAY: ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>EAST BAY: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>EAST BAY: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"alt": "Hand holding a cup of iced coffee topped with a layer of pale green matcha cream.",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a cup of iced coffee topped with a layer of pale green matcha cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993215\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The matcha americano with cream top at Yume Mori on August 21, 2026, in Berkeley.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a cup of iced coffee topped with a layer of pale green matcha cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993215\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The matcha americano with cream top at Yume Mori on August 21, 2026, in Berkeley.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Yume Mori ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/yumemori.matcha/\">Yume Mori \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/yumemori.matcha/\">Yume Mori \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2319 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2319 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jazz plays inside this minimalist cafe located in a line of popular matcha cafes near UC Berkeley. The spot is hard to miss because there is always a crowd of people waiting outside — tweens holding mom’s spot in line while she searches for a parking space.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Jazz plays inside this minimalist cafe located in a line of popular matcha cafes near UC Berkeley. The spot is hard to miss because there is always a crowd of people waiting outside — tweens holding mom’s spot in line while she searches for a parking space.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yume Mori is one of the few shops where customers get to choose a specific regional variety of matcha for your drink, each one boasting a different flavor profile. The cafe also serves matcha soft serve, matcha crepes and house specialties like clear matcha (made with coconut water and topped with matcha cream) and genmaicha lattes (made with green tea blended with roasted rice). The matcha here has a vibrant color and taste, but if you don’t care for those intense nutty and astringent flavors, there are also sweeter options like tiramisu, yuzu miso and cold brew options. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Yume Mori is one of the few shops where customers get to choose a specific regional variety of matcha for your drink, each one boasting a different flavor profile. The cafe also serves matcha soft serve, matcha crepes and house specialties like clear matcha (made with coconut water and topped with matcha cream) and genmaicha lattes (made with green tea blended with roasted rice). The matcha here has a vibrant color and taste, but if you don’t care for those intense nutty and astringent flavors, there are also sweeter options like tiramisu, yuzu miso and cold brew options. \u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Mind Coffee",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mindcoffee.ca/\">Mind Coffee\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mindcoffee.ca/\">Mind Coffee\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1816 Euclid Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1816 Euclid Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Away from the traffic of the busier parts of Berkeley sits Mind Coffee, a popular study spot for students on the north side of campus. Mind has a large selection of coffee, teas and pastries, and the matcha drinks, in particular, are some of the most creative in the Bay. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Away from the traffic of the busier parts of Berkeley sits Mind Coffee, a popular study spot for students on the north side of campus. Mind has a large selection of coffee, teas and pastries, and the matcha drinks, in particular, are some of the most creative in the Bay. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Einspänners are especially popular here. These froth-topped drinks, named after a type of horse-drawn carriage, originated in Vienna, Austria. But they’d been a fixture in Korean dramas for years by the time they made their way to the States. Einspänners are traditionally a coffee drink, but Mind features less common versions like an Earl Grey matcha Einspänner latte (which tastes a bit like a sweet, syrupy bowl of cereal) and an iced matcha sakura Einspänner with pink milk, which transports you into a forest of cherry blossom trees.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Einspänners are especially popular here. These froth-topped drinks, named after a type of horse-drawn carriage, originated in Vienna, Austria. But they’d been a fixture in Korean dramas for years by the time they made their way to the States. Einspänners are traditionally a coffee drink, but Mind features less common versions like an Earl Grey matcha Einspänner latte (which tastes a bit like a sweet, syrupy bowl of cereal) and an iced matcha sakura Einspänner with pink milk, which transports you into a forest of cherry blossom trees.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"attrs": {
"id": 13993222,
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"alt": "Matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte on a sun-dappled wooden table.",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte on a sun-dappled wooden table.\" class=\"wp-image-13993222\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte from Kitsch Coffee in Oakland on Aug. 20, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte on a sun-dappled wooden table.\" class=\"wp-image-13993222\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte from Kitsch Coffee in Oakland on Aug. 20, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Kitsch Coffee",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kitschcoffeeoakland/\">Kitsch Coffee\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kitschcoffeeoakland/\">Kitsch Coffee\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>590 2nd St., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>590 2nd St., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kitsch Coffee shares space with a vintage furniture and home goods store in Jack London Square. The big open space is always full with people working behind laptops, chatting with friends or sifting through racks of vintage clothes. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Kitsch Coffee shares space with a vintage furniture and home goods store in Jack London Square. The big open space is always full with people working behind laptops, chatting with friends or sifting through racks of vintage clothes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kitsch is a coffee shop, but the place takes matcha seriously. Matcha here is bright green and can be amped up with housemade syrups with flavors like ginger and lavender. The carrot cake matcha even comes with a cream cheese foam to mimic the frosting on a slice of cake. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Kitsch is a coffee shop, but the place takes matcha seriously. Matcha here is bright green and can be amped up with housemade syrups with flavors like ginger and lavender. The carrot cake matcha even comes with a cream cheese foam to mimic the frosting on a slice of cake. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "For the Love of Matcha",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveofmatchacafe/\">For the Love of Matcha\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveofmatchacafe/\">For the Love of Matcha\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Grand Lake Farmers Market (Grand Avenue and Lake Park Avenue, Oakland)\u003cbr>Temescal Farmers Market (5300 Claremont Ave., Oakland)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Grand Lake Farmers Market (Grand Avenue and Lake Park Avenue, Oakland)\u003cbr>Temescal Farmers Market (5300 Claremont Ave., Oakland)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This weekly pop-up at the Grand Lake and Temescal farmers markets closes once it sells out, so it’s best to arrive early. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This weekly pop-up at the Grand Lake and Temescal farmers markets closes once it sells out, so it’s best to arrive early. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The menu rotates based on the season. For summer, they have sweet corn, fig, vanilla and the forever favorite strawberry matcha latte. The farmers market stand is popular, so oftentimes you’ll find many of the flavors crossed out in permanent marker. The Matchacano is my go-to drink, but you can always up the flavor with their seasonal syrups and cream tops. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The menu rotates based on the season. For summer, they have sweet corn, fig, vanilla and the forever favorite strawberry matcha latte. The farmers market stand is popular, so oftentimes you’ll find many of the flavors crossed out in permanent marker. The Matchacano is my go-to drink, but you can always up the flavor with their seasonal syrups and cream tops. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"attrs": {
"id": 13993225,
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"alt": "Hand holding matcha soft serve ice cream on a sugar cone.",
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"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding matcha soft serve ice cream on a sugar cone.\" class=\"wp-image-13993225\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer holds a matcha-and-vanilla swirl soft serve ice cream cone from Urban Matcha in Castro Valley on Aug. 20, 2026\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding matcha soft serve ice cream on a sugar cone.\" class=\"wp-image-13993225\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer holds a matcha-and-vanilla swirl soft serve ice cream cone from Urban Matcha in Castro Valley on Aug. 20, 2026\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Urban Matcha ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/urbanmatcha.castrovalley/\">Urban Matcha \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/urbanmatcha.castrovalley/\">Urban Matcha \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3311 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3311 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A hidden gem in suburban Castro Valley, Urban Matcha provides a matcha oasis in a somewhat unlikely part of the Bay. At 7 p.m. on a recent Tuesday evening, the cafe was full of chatty teens, people finding a calm place to get work done and families ending their night with their favorite sweet treats. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A hidden gem in suburban Castro Valley, Urban Matcha provides a matcha oasis in a somewhat unlikely part of the Bay. At 7 p.m. on a recent Tuesday evening, the cafe was full of chatty teens, people finding a calm place to get work done and families ending their night with their favorite sweet treats. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Part of a chain that extends from California to Las Vegas, the cafe is especially notable for its matcha-flavored desserts. This is the kind of place where every other customer walks out with their hands full of matcha parfaits loaded with agar jelly, corn flakes, matcha gelato, red bean paste, mochi balls and a big scoop of matcha soft serve. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Part of a chain that extends from California to Las Vegas, the cafe is especially notable for its matcha-flavored desserts. This is the kind of place where every other customer walks out with their hands full of matcha parfaits loaded with agar jelly, corn flakes, matcha gelato, red bean paste, mochi balls and a big scoop of matcha soft serve. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "SAN FRANCISCO: ",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>SAN FRANCISCO: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>SAN FRANCISCO: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Constance Tea",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/constance.tea/\">Constance Tea\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/constance.tea/\">Constance Tea\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3512 Balboa St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3512 Balboa St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Located on Balboa Street, in the Outer Richmond, Constance Tea is the only place in San Francisco where tea leaves are stone-milled into matcha in house. This new shop isn’t the place to find the drinks that satisfy your sweet tooth. Instead, Constance focuses on the basics: a small selection of hōjicha (roasted green tea), Einspänners and traditional matcha drinks made with matcha sourced from various regions in Japan, showcasing different flavor profiles. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Located on Balboa Street, in the Outer Richmond, Constance Tea is the only place in San Francisco where tea leaves are stone-milled into matcha in house. This new shop isn’t the place to find the drinks that satisfy your sweet tooth. Instead, Constance focuses on the basics: a small selection of hōjicha (roasted green tea), Einspänners and traditional matcha drinks made with matcha sourced from various regions in Japan, showcasing different flavor profiles. \u003c/p>\n"
],
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During a recent visit, my matcha americano was a vivid green, perfectly balanced between earthiness and a nutty aftertaste, with a cream top that provided just the right amount of milkiness to complement the grassy taste of the tea. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>During a recent visit, my matcha americano was a vivid green, perfectly balanced between earthiness and a nutty aftertaste, with a cream top that provided just the right amount of milkiness to complement the grassy taste of the tea. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"attrs": {
"id": 13993221,
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"alt": "Two customers side by side holding creamy matcha drinks.",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Two customers side by side holding creamy matcha drinks.\" class=\"wp-image-13993221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers hold their matcha drinks at Ceré Tea on Valencia Street in San Francisco on Aug. 20, 2026. The tea shop specializes in matcha and hōjicha drinks.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Two customers side by side holding creamy matcha drinks.\" class=\"wp-image-13993221\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers hold their matcha drinks at Ceré Tea on Valencia Street in San Francisco on Aug. 20, 2026. The tea shop specializes in matcha and hōjicha drinks.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Ceré Tea ",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cereteaxyz/\">Ceré Tea \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cereteaxyz/\">Ceré Tea \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1186 Valencia St., San Francisco (and other locations)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1186 Valencia St., San Francisco (and other locations)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This popular matcha spot in the Mission, with locations throughout the Bay Area, has all the makings for a viral cafe, with its full-body selfie mirror and minimalist design. The menu puts matcha and hōjicha at the forefront, featuring drinks infused with yuzu, ube, guava and more. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This popular matcha spot in the Mission, with locations throughout the Bay Area, has all the makings for a viral cafe, with its full-body selfie mirror and minimalist design. The menu puts matcha and hōjicha at the forefront, featuring drinks infused with yuzu, ube, guava and more. \u003c/p>\n"
],
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The matcha leans toward the brighter and more bitter side, but you can always sweeten the deal with a banana or crème brûlée cream top. Trendy offerings like Einspänners and cheese cream toppings are also available. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The matcha leans toward the brighter and more bitter side, but you can always sweeten the deal with a banana or crème brûlée cream top. Trendy offerings like Einspänners and cheese cream toppings are also available. \u003c/p>\n"
],
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},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Matcha Café Maiko ",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matchacafemaiko/\">Matcha Café Maiko \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matchacafemaiko/\">Matcha Café Maiko \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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},
{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1581 Webster St., San Francisco (and other locations)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1581 Webster St., San Francisco (and other locations)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This wildly popular Honolulu-based chain has become a Bay Area mall staple. It’s a quick, convenient and portable way to take your matcha to go. Big chains often don’t maintain their quality, but Maiko is always consistent, offering a convenient option to grab your matcha on the go. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This wildly popular Honolulu-based chain has become a Bay Area mall staple. It’s a quick, convenient and portable way to take your matcha to go. Big chains often don’t maintain their quality, but Maiko is always consistent, offering a convenient option to grab your matcha on the go. \u003c/p>\n"
],
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Perfect for a matcha beginner, the shop is known for its wide variety of matcha desserts:soft serves, shaved ices, parfaits, frappes and floats. The matcha here strikes just the right balance of sweetness and rich matcha flavor, providing the best caffeine boost after a day at the mall.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Perfect for a matcha beginner, the shop is known for its wide variety of matcha desserts:soft serves, shaved ices, parfaits, frappes and floats. The matcha here strikes just the right balance of sweetness and rich matcha flavor, providing the best caffeine boost after a day at the mall.\u003c/p>\n"
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},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA: ",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 13993424,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "A matcha drink with white swirls of crème brûlée–flavored cream.",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A matcha drink with white swirls of crème brûlée–flavored cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993424\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The crème brûlée matcha swirl at Izumi Matcha in San Mateo on Aug. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A matcha drink with white swirls of crème brûlée–flavored cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993424\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The crème brûlée matcha swirl at Izumi Matcha in San Mateo on Aug. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Izumi Matcha ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/izumi.matcha/\">Izumi Matcha \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/izumi.matcha/\">Izumi Matcha \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>180 E. 3rd Ave. Unit 100A, San Mateo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>180 E. 3rd Ave. Unit 100A, San Mateo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With three locations in the Peninsula and South Bay, Izumi is one of the only cafes in the US that \u003ca href=\"https://izumimatcha.com/premium-matcha-powder/\">sources its matcha from Marukyu Koyamaen\u003c/a>, a highly regarded producer in Uji, Japan. Inside, the walls are lined with tins of the Marukyu matcha powder, along with tea kettles, matcha serving bowls and matcha whisks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>With three locations in the Peninsula and South Bay, Izumi is one of the only cafes in the US that \u003ca href=\"https://izumimatcha.com/premium-matcha-powder/\">sources its matcha from Marukyu Koyamaen\u003c/a>, a highly regarded producer in Uji, Japan. Inside, the walls are lined with tins of the Marukyu matcha powder, along with tea kettles, matcha serving bowls and matcha whisks. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The broad menu of teas and desserts really highlight the quality of the matcha itself. The matcha latte options include trendy flavors like a crème brûlée swirl that adds an element of creaminess as a counterpoint to the bright matcha flavor. In addition to the drinks, the shop also offers a diverse selection of matcha- and tea-flavored ice creams — everything from ube to “intense matcha.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The broad menu of teas and desserts really highlight the quality of the matcha itself. The matcha latte options include trendy flavors like a crème brûlée swirl that adds an element of creaminess as a counterpoint to the bright matcha flavor. In addition to the drinks, the shop also offers a diverse selection of matcha- and tea-flavored ice creams — everything from ube to “intense matcha.”\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Aroma",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/aroma.cct/\">Aroma\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/aroma.cct/\">Aroma\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3005 Silver Creek Rd. Ste. 150, San José\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3005 Silver Creek Rd. Ste. 150, San José\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This East San José tea, coffee and chè shop sells a wide variety of Vietnamese-inspired coffee and tea drinks. Matcha is the powerhouse of the menu, available in 10 different flavors, many of them featuring Southeast Asian ingredients like pandan, guava, banana cream and mango sticky rice. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This East San José tea, coffee and chè shop sells a wide variety of Vietnamese-inspired coffee and tea drinks. Matcha is the powerhouse of the menu, available in 10 different flavors, many of them featuring Southeast Asian ingredients like pandan, guava, banana cream and mango sticky rice. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The matcha at Aroma is strong, but not overpoweringly bitter. The quality of the tea shines through even when paired with thick, sweet, syrupy banana, mango and yuzu puddings.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The matcha at Aroma is strong, but not overpoweringly bitter. The quality of the tea shines through even when paired with thick, sweet, syrupy banana, mango and yuzu puddings.\u003c/p>\n"
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"alt": "A matcha parfait in a sundae glass, layered with fresh strawberries and ice cream.",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A matcha parfait in a sundae glass, layered with fresh strawberries and ice cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993421\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Another view of the matcha strawberry parfait at Matsu Matcha.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A matcha parfait in a sundae glass, layered with fresh strawberries and ice cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993421\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Another view of the matcha strawberry parfait at Matsu Matcha.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matsumatcha.usa/\">Matsu Matcha\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matsumatcha.usa/\">Matsu Matcha\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3030 El Camino Real, Santa Clara\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3030 El Camino Real, Santa Clara\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp> A calm oasis located inside a busy shopping plaza in Santa Clara, Matsu serves bright green matcha in many different formats. The cafe’s extensive menu offers matcha gelato (available in five levels of increasing intensity, plus a seasonal flavor), matcha floats, matcha flights and much more. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp> A calm oasis located inside a busy shopping plaza in Santa Clara, Matsu serves bright green matcha in many different formats. The cafe’s extensive menu offers matcha gelato (available in five levels of increasing intensity, plus a seasonal flavor), matcha floats, matcha flights and much more. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The matcha flights are a good option for customers who have trouble deciding. They feature a triple dose of matcha, a matcha latte with matcha cream on top, a seasonal matcha (guava during my recent visit) and a matcha float (available in flavors like grape and dark chocolate). \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The matcha flights are a good option for customers who have trouble deciding. They feature a triple dose of matcha, a matcha latte with matcha cream on top, a seasonal matcha (guava during my recent visit) and a matcha float (available in flavors like grape and dark chocolate). \u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "A guide to the best matcha lattes, Einspänners and soft serve in the Bay.",
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"title": "The Best Matcha Cafes in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">2026 Fall Arts Guide\u003c/a> to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These days, every young person in the Bay Area seems to be walking around with some variation of the same green drink: matcha. Traditionally made by whisking finely ground green tea leaves with hot water, the beverage has been used for ceremonial practices in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/japanese-food\">Japan\u003c/a> for thousands of years. Over the past decade, however, the vibrant drink has taken America by storm. The United States now imports \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2PpIvUKwo\">over 2,000 tons\u003c/a> of matcha per year, turning the tea powder into drinks, ice cream treats and even skin care products. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here in the Bay, it feels like a new matcha cafe or matcha-forward coffee shop opens almost every day. Each place offers its own take on the drink, whether it be a latte with your choice of milk, an obsessively sweet concoction of cookie butters and banana puddings, or a simple americano.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Matcha, like life, is all about balance. I spent the past several weeks trying many of the Bay Area’s hundreds of matcha cafes. Here are some of my favorites. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>EAST BAY: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a cup of iced coffee topped with a layer of pale green matcha cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993215\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/082126-FALLARTSGUIDEMATCHAINTHEBAY-15-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The matcha americano with cream top at Yume Mori on August 21, 2026, in Berkeley. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/yumemori.matcha/\">Yume Mori \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2319 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jazz plays inside this minimalist cafe located in a line of popular matcha cafes near UC Berkeley. The spot is hard to miss because there is always a crowd of people waiting outside — tweens holding mom’s spot in line while she searches for a parking space.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yume Mori is one of the few shops where customers get to choose a specific regional variety of matcha for your drink, each one boasting a different flavor profile. The cafe also serves matcha soft serve, matcha crepes and house specialties like clear matcha (made with coconut water and topped with matcha cream) and genmaicha lattes (made with green tea blended with roasted rice). The matcha here has a vibrant color and taste, but if you don’t care for those intense nutty and astringent flavors, there are also sweeter options like tiramisu, yuzu miso and cold brew options. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mindcoffee.ca/\">Mind Coffee\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1816 Euclid Ave., Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Away from the traffic of the busier parts of Berkeley sits Mind Coffee, a popular study spot for students on the north side of campus. Mind has a large selection of coffee, teas and pastries, and the matcha drinks, in particular, are some of the most creative in the Bay. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Einspänners are especially popular here. These froth-topped drinks, named after a type of horse-drawn carriage, originated in Vienna, Austria. But they’d been a fixture in Korean dramas for years by the time they made their way to the States. Einspänners are traditionally a coffee drink, but Mind features less common versions like an Earl Grey matcha Einspänner latte (which tastes a bit like a sweet, syrupy bowl of cereal) and an iced matcha sakura Einspänner with pink milk, which transports you into a forest of cherry blossom trees.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte on a sun-dappled wooden table.\" class=\"wp-image-13993222\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A matcha latte and strawberry matcha latte from Kitsch Coffee in Oakland on Aug. 20, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kitschcoffeeoakland/\">Kitsch Coffee\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>590 2nd St., Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kitsch Coffee shares space with a vintage furniture and home goods store in Jack London Square. The big open space is always full with people working behind laptops, chatting with friends or sifting through racks of vintage clothes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kitsch is a coffee shop, but the place takes matcha seriously. Matcha here is bright green and can be amped up with housemade syrups with flavors like ginger and lavender. The carrot cake matcha even comes with a cream cheese foam to mimic the frosting on a slice of cake. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveofmatchacafe/\">For the Love of Matcha\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Grand Lake Farmers Market (Grand Avenue and Lake Park Avenue, Oakland)\u003cbr>Temescal Farmers Market (5300 Claremont Ave., Oakland)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This weekly pop-up at the Grand Lake and Temescal farmers markets closes once it sells out, so it’s best to arrive early. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The menu rotates based on the season. For summer, they have sweet corn, fig, vanilla and the forever favorite strawberry matcha latte. The farmers market stand is popular, so oftentimes you’ll find many of the flavors crossed out in permanent marker. The Matchacano is my go-to drink, but you can always up the flavor with their seasonal syrups and cream tops. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding matcha soft serve ice cream on a sugar cone.\" class=\"wp-image-13993225\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHA-NG-30-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer holds a matcha-and-vanilla swirl soft serve ice cream cone from Urban Matcha in Castro Valley on Aug. 20, 2026 (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/urbanmatcha.castrovalley/\">Urban Matcha \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3311 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A hidden gem in suburban Castro Valley, Urban Matcha provides a matcha oasis in a somewhat unlikely part of the Bay. At 7 p.m. on a recent Tuesday evening, the cafe was full of chatty teens, people finding a calm place to get work done and families ending their night with their favorite sweet treats. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Part of a chain that extends from California to Las Vegas, the cafe is especially notable for its matcha-flavored desserts. This is the kind of place where every other customer walks out with their hands full of matcha parfaits loaded with agar jelly, corn flakes, matcha gelato, red bean paste, mochi balls and a big scoop of matcha soft serve. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>SAN FRANCISCO: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/constance.tea/\">Constance Tea\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3512 Balboa St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Located on Balboa Street, in the Outer Richmond, Constance Tea is the only place in San Francisco where tea leaves are stone-milled into matcha in house. This new shop isn’t the place to find the drinks that satisfy your sweet tooth. Instead, Constance focuses on the basics: a small selection of hōjicha (roasted green tea), Einspänners and traditional matcha drinks made with matcha sourced from various regions in Japan, showcasing different flavor profiles. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During a recent visit, my matcha americano was a vivid green, perfectly balanced between earthiness and a nutty aftertaste, with a cream top that provided just the right amount of milkiness to complement the grassy taste of the tea. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Two customers side by side holding creamy matcha drinks.\" class=\"wp-image-13993221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260820-MATCHAINTHEBAY-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers hold their matcha drinks at Ceré Tea on Valencia Street in San Francisco on Aug. 20, 2026. The tea shop specializes in matcha and hōjicha drinks. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cereteaxyz/\">Ceré Tea \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1186 Valencia St., San Francisco (and other locations)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This popular matcha spot in the Mission, with locations throughout the Bay Area, has all the makings for a viral cafe, with its full-body selfie mirror and minimalist design. The menu puts matcha and hōjicha at the forefront, featuring drinks infused with yuzu, ube, guava and more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The matcha leans toward the brighter and more bitter side, but you can always sweeten the deal with a banana or crème brûlée cream top. Trendy offerings like Einspänners and cheese cream toppings are also available. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matchacafemaiko/\">Matcha Café Maiko \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1581 Webster St., San Francisco (and other locations)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This wildly popular Honolulu-based chain has become a Bay Area mall staple. It’s a quick, convenient and portable way to take your matcha to go. Big chains often don’t maintain their quality, but Maiko is always consistent, offering a convenient option to grab your matcha on the go. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perfect for a matcha beginner, the shop is known for its wide variety of matcha desserts:soft serves, shaved ices, parfaits, frappes and floats. The matcha here strikes just the right balance of sweetness and rich matcha flavor, providing the best caffeine boost after a day at the mall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>SOUTH BAY AND PENINSULA: \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A matcha drink with white swirls of crème brûlée–flavored cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993424\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The crème brûlée matcha swirl at Izumi Matcha in San Mateo on Aug. 27, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/izumi.matcha/\">Izumi Matcha \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>180 E. 3rd Ave. Unit 100A, San Mateo\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With three locations in the Peninsula and South Bay, Izumi is one of the only cafes in the US that \u003ca href=\"https://izumimatcha.com/premium-matcha-powder/\">sources its matcha from Marukyu Koyamaen\u003c/a>, a highly regarded producer in Uji, Japan. Inside, the walls are lined with tins of the Marukyu matcha powder, along with tea kettles, matcha serving bowls and matcha whisks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The broad menu of teas and desserts really highlight the quality of the matcha itself. The matcha latte options include trendy flavors like a crème brûlée swirl that adds an element of creaminess as a counterpoint to the bright matcha flavor. In addition to the drinks, the shop also offers a diverse selection of matcha- and tea-flavored ice creams — everything from ube to “intense matcha.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/aroma.cct/\">Aroma\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3005 Silver Creek Rd. Ste. 150, San José\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This East San José tea, coffee and chè shop sells a wide variety of Vietnamese-inspired coffee and tea drinks. Matcha is the powerhouse of the menu, available in 10 different flavors, many of them featuring Southeast Asian ingredients like pandan, guava, banana cream and mango sticky rice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The matcha at Aroma is strong, but not overpoweringly bitter. The quality of the tea shines through even when paired with thick, sweet, syrupy banana, mango and yuzu puddings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A matcha parfait in a sundae glass, layered with fresh strawberries and ice cream.\" class=\"wp-image-13993421\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260827-MATCHAINTHEBAY-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Another view of the matcha strawberry parfait at Matsu Matcha. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matsumatcha.usa/\">Matsu Matcha\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3030 El Camino Real, Santa Clara\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> A calm oasis located inside a busy shopping plaza in Santa Clara, Matsu serves bright green matcha in many different formats. The cafe’s extensive menu offers matcha gelato (available in five levels of increasing intensity, plus a seasonal flavor), matcha floats, matcha flights and much more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The matcha flights are a good option for customers who have trouble deciding. They feature a triple dose of matcha, a matcha latte with matcha cream on top, a seasonal matcha (guava during my recent visit) and a matcha float (available in flavors like grape and dark chocolate). \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "valkyries-fandom-womens-sports-wnba-playoffs",
"title": "The Valkyries Make it Easy to Be a Women’s Sports Fan",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>It’s a Friday night in May and I’m frantically setting up screens around my apartment while my roommate makes sure we have enough ice cubes in the freezer. We are attempting to evoke a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">sports bar feel\u003c/a>” in a place that doesn’t even have a television — just a projector we stow away when not in use — or enough seats in the living room for our guests.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignright size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000.jpg\" alt=\"smiling person with long dark hair in violet sports jersey in front of giant poster of athlete in same uniform\" class=\"wp-image-13993426\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The author poses in front of a poster of Valkyries player Veronica Burton. (Ugur Dursun)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>About a dozen friends trickle in before the 7 p.m. tip-off for the first \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-state-valkyries\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a> game of the regular WNBA season, where the team convincingly defeats the Seattle Storm. I try my best to fill in newer fans on the team’s historic inaugural season, the players to watch, and how excited we should be to have Gabby Williams on our roster. I have become the go-to expert, despite not having touched a basketball since I was in middle school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When the Valkyries were announced in 2023 as the WNBA’s first expansion team since 2008, I must admit, I did not have much of a reaction beyond “that’s cool.” Aside from a couple of Olympics, I had never consistently followed any sport or league. And yet, that all changed when the Valkyries came to town. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I went to my first game at Chase Center, or “Ballhalla,” in June 2025, and was immediately hooked by the energy of the crowd, the colorway of the team, and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">DJs that spin certified bangers all night long\u003c/a>. Coincidentally, that was another game when the Valkyries came out on top against the Seattle Storm, which made my first Ballhalla experience all the more memorable.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13980949\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">DJ Shellheart plays a set for the Golden State Valkyries during a game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Aug. 19, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the course of the team’s inaugural season, Ballhalla became known for having the toughest home crowd to play against, drawing parallels to the Warriors’ “Roaracle” era at the Oakland Arena. When the Valkyries beat the odds to reach playoffs, but could not play at Chase Center due to a scheduling conflict, fans declared \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056563/better-than-i-ever-dreamed-valkyries-fans-reflect-on-historic-first-season\">“Ballhalla is a mentality”\u003c/a> and brought their intensity to San José’s SAP Center. This season, the Valkyries will finally get to play some postseason games in Ballhalla, painting San Francisco all shades of violet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I describe the Valkyries fandom to my friends as “a sea of purple boarding the Muni bus.” Even during the offseason, you’ll notice people wearing Valkyries gear around the Bay Area — fans from all walks of life have embraced the team. Of course, it helps that women’s basketball isn’t completely new to the Bay Area. Some fans patiently waited for a new WNBA franchise after the team they once cheered for, the Sacramento Monarchs, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989177/monarchs-sacramento-wnba-team-history\">disbanded in 2009\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perhaps that’s why, at a time when multiple major league men’s sports teams have abandoned their Bay Area fans in favor of swankier new stadiums in Las Vegas, the WNBA is doubling down on the Valkyries’ popularity in the Bay Area by hosting the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095766/san-francisco-to-host-2027-wnba-all-star-game-at-chase-center\">2027 WNBA All-Star Game\u003c/a> in San Francisco. Sure, there was an official bid that Valkyries owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber placed to bring the event to the Bay Area; it’s not like the league came up with the idea. But the Valkyries (and the fans who sold out Ballhalla for every single game) are the reason why \u003cem>this\u003c/em> is the moment to host the first WNBA All-Star Game in California — where the Los Angeles Sparks have been hooping for 30 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"a purple bird mascot stands at center court over Valkyries logo\" class=\"wp-image-13993417\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet the Raven rallies the crowd during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sept. 17, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rooting for the Valkyries is easy, even if you aren’t the biggest sports fan. They were built by bringing together underutilized players from other teams in the league, with a philosophy of unselfish ball that lets everyone shine. It helps that they are doing exceptionally well this season, currently ranking second in the league, one spot above the reigning champions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s a relatability to their underdog narrative — we all feel like we’re being overlooked sometimes, like we could thrive if only someone knew our worth. In the Valkyries players’ case, it was the General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin and the coaching staff, led by Natalie Nakase, that understood what the players could bring to the team with the right push.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"Asian woman smiles in black hoodie during press coference\" class=\"wp-image-13993418\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I would be remiss not to mention the bad-faith political discourse that has clouded the league this season. Coach Nakase and Gabby Williams have both made powerful statements in support of inclusivity and acceptance in the league, with Williams saying, “I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime. I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of attack trans people.” Indeed, trans people make up \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/trans-women-in-sports-facts-over-fear\">less than 10 of 500,000 U.S. college athletes\u003c/a>, and even fewer Olympians, making the right-wing fearmongering look asinine at best.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In just over a year, the Valkyries have become a symbol of the Bay Area’s diversity and love of sports, a celebration of women, and a reason for another international event to arrive in San Francisco. As for me, I’ve become the point person for all-things Valkyries for my friends (and coworkers). I even spent my birthday this year in Philadelphia attending Unrivaled — a women’s basketball league co-founded by two WNBA stars to allow WNBA players to play domestically and earn income during the offseason. I’ve made and strengthened friendships over a shared love of women’s sports. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And, like any sports fanatic, I cannot wait for the day the Valkyries bring home the championship.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000.jpg\" alt=\"smiling person with long dark hair in violet sports jersey in front of giant poster of athlete in same uniform\" class=\"wp-image-13993426\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The author poses in front of a poster of Valkyries player Veronica Burton.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Ugur Dursun)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I went to my first game at Chase Center, or “Ballhalla,” in June 2025, and was immediately hooked by the energy of the crowd, the colorway of the team, and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">DJs that spin certified bangers all night long\u003c/a>. Coincidentally, that was another game when the Valkyries came out on top against the Seattle Storm, which made my first Ballhalla experience all the more memorable.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I went to my first game at Chase Center, or “Ballhalla,” in June 2025, and was immediately hooked by the energy of the crowd, the colorway of the team, and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">DJs that spin certified bangers all night long\u003c/a>. Coincidentally, that was another game when the Valkyries came out on top against the Seattle Storm, which made my first Ballhalla experience all the more memorable.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13980949\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">DJ Shellheart plays a set for the Golden State Valkyries during a game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Aug. 19, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13980949\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">DJ Shellheart plays a set for the Golden State Valkyries during a game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Aug. 19, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the course of the team’s inaugural season, Ballhalla became known for having the toughest home crowd to play against, drawing parallels to the Warriors’ “Roaracle” era at the Oakland Arena. When the Valkyries beat the odds to reach playoffs, but could not play at Chase Center due to a scheduling conflict, fans declared \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056563/better-than-i-ever-dreamed-valkyries-fans-reflect-on-historic-first-season\">“Ballhalla is a mentality”\u003c/a> and brought their intensity to San José’s SAP Center. This season, the Valkyries will finally get to play some postseason games in Ballhalla, painting San Francisco all shades of violet.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over the course of the team’s inaugural season, Ballhalla became known for having the toughest home crowd to play against, drawing parallels to the Warriors’ “Roaracle” era at the Oakland Arena. When the Valkyries beat the odds to reach playoffs, but could not play at Chase Center due to a scheduling conflict, fans declared \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056563/better-than-i-ever-dreamed-valkyries-fans-reflect-on-historic-first-season\">“Ballhalla is a mentality”\u003c/a> and brought their intensity to San José’s SAP Center. This season, the Valkyries will finally get to play some postseason games in Ballhalla, painting San Francisco all shades of violet.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I describe the Valkyries fandom to my friends as “a sea of purple boarding the Muni bus.” Even during the offseason, you’ll notice people wearing Valkyries gear around the Bay Area — fans from all walks of life have embraced the team. Of course, it helps that women’s basketball isn’t completely new to the Bay Area. Some fans patiently waited for a new WNBA franchise after the team they once cheered for, the Sacramento Monarchs, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989177/monarchs-sacramento-wnba-team-history\">disbanded in 2009\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I describe the Valkyries fandom to my friends as “a sea of purple boarding the Muni bus.” Even during the offseason, you’ll notice people wearing Valkyries gear around the Bay Area — fans from all walks of life have embraced the team. Of course, it helps that women’s basketball isn’t completely new to the Bay Area. Some fans patiently waited for a new WNBA franchise after the team they once cheered for, the Sacramento Monarchs, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989177/monarchs-sacramento-wnba-team-history\">disbanded in 2009\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Perhaps that’s why, at a time when multiple major league men’s sports teams have abandoned their Bay Area fans in favor of swankier new stadiums in Las Vegas, the WNBA is doubling down on the Valkyries’ popularity in the Bay Area by hosting the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095766/san-francisco-to-host-2027-wnba-all-star-game-at-chase-center\">2027 WNBA All-Star Game\u003c/a> in San Francisco. Sure, there was an official bid that Valkyries owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber placed to bring the event to the Bay Area; it’s not like the league came up with the idea. But the Valkyries (and the fans who sold out Ballhalla for every single game) are the reason why \u003cem>this\u003c/em> is the moment to host the first WNBA All-Star Game in California — where the Los Angeles Sparks have been hooping for 30 years.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Perhaps that’s why, at a time when multiple major league men’s sports teams have abandoned their Bay Area fans in favor of swankier new stadiums in Las Vegas, the WNBA is doubling down on the Valkyries’ popularity in the Bay Area by hosting the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095766/san-francisco-to-host-2027-wnba-all-star-game-at-chase-center\">2027 WNBA All-Star Game\u003c/a> in San Francisco. Sure, there was an official bid that Valkyries owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber placed to bring the event to the Bay Area; it’s not like the league came up with the idea. But the Valkyries (and the fans who sold out Ballhalla for every single game) are the reason why \u003cem>this\u003c/em> is the moment to host the first WNBA All-Star Game in California — where the Los Angeles Sparks have been hooping for 30 years.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"a purple bird mascot stands at center court over Valkyries logo\" class=\"wp-image-13993417\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet the Raven rallies the crowd during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sept. 17, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"a purple bird mascot stands at center court over Valkyries logo\" class=\"wp-image-13993417\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet the Raven rallies the crowd during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sept. 17, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rooting for the Valkyries is easy, even if you aren’t the biggest sports fan. They were built by bringing together underutilized players from other teams in the league, with a philosophy of unselfish ball that lets everyone shine. It helps that they are doing exceptionally well this season, currently ranking second in the league, one spot above the reigning champions. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Rooting for the Valkyries is easy, even if you aren’t the biggest sports fan. They were built by bringing together underutilized players from other teams in the league, with a philosophy of unselfish ball that lets everyone shine. It helps that they are doing exceptionally well this season, currently ranking second in the league, one spot above the reigning champions. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s a relatability to their underdog narrative — we all feel like we’re being overlooked sometimes, like we could thrive if only someone knew our worth. In the Valkyries players’ case, it was the General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin and the coaching staff, led by Natalie Nakase, that understood what the players could bring to the team with the right push.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There’s a relatability to their underdog narrative — we all feel like we’re being overlooked sometimes, like we could thrive if only someone knew our worth. In the Valkyries players’ case, it was the General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin and the coaching staff, led by Natalie Nakase, that understood what the players could bring to the team with the right push.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"Asian woman smiles in black hoodie during press coference\" class=\"wp-image-13993418\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"Asian woman smiles in black hoodie during press coference\" class=\"wp-image-13993418\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I would be remiss not to mention the bad-faith political discourse that has clouded the league this season. Coach Nakase and Gabby Williams have both made powerful statements in support of inclusivity and acceptance in the league, with Williams saying, “I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime. I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of attack trans people.” Indeed, trans people make up \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/trans-women-in-sports-facts-over-fear\">less than 10 of 500,000 U.S. college athletes\u003c/a>, and even fewer Olympians, making the right-wing fearmongering look asinine at best.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I would be remiss not to mention the bad-faith political discourse that has clouded the league this season. Coach Nakase and Gabby Williams have both made powerful statements in support of inclusivity and acceptance in the league, with Williams saying, “I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime. I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of attack trans people.” Indeed, trans people make up \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/trans-women-in-sports-facts-over-fear\">less than 10 of 500,000 U.S. college athletes\u003c/a>, and even fewer Olympians, making the right-wing fearmongering look asinine at best.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In just over a year, the Valkyries have become a symbol of the Bay Area’s diversity and love of sports, a celebration of women, and a reason for another international event to arrive in San Francisco. As for me, I’ve become the point person for all-things Valkyries for my friends (and coworkers). I even spent my birthday this year in Philadelphia attending Unrivaled — a women’s basketball league co-founded by two WNBA stars to allow WNBA players to play domestically and earn income during the offseason. I’ve made and strengthened friendships over a shared love of women’s sports. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In just over a year, the Valkyries have become a symbol of the Bay Area’s diversity and love of sports, a celebration of women, and a reason for another international event to arrive in San Francisco. As for me, I’ve become the point person for all-things Valkyries for my friends (and coworkers). I even spent my birthday this year in Philadelphia attending Unrivaled — a women’s basketball league co-founded by two WNBA stars to allow WNBA players to play domestically and earn income during the offseason. I’ve made and strengthened friendships over a shared love of women’s sports. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And, like any sports fanatic, I cannot wait for the day the Valkyries bring home the championship.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And, like any sports fanatic, I cannot wait for the day the Valkyries bring home the championship.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "As the WNBA team approaches the playoffs, sold-out crowds at Balhalla have turned even sports skeptics into fans.",
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"title": "The Valkyries Make it Easy to Be a Women’s Sports Fan | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>It’s a Friday night in May and I’m frantically setting up screens around my apartment while my roommate makes sure we have enough ice cubes in the freezer. We are attempting to evoke a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">sports bar feel\u003c/a>” in a place that doesn’t even have a television — just a projector we stow away when not in use — or enough seats in the living room for our guests.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignright size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000.jpg\" alt=\"smiling person with long dark hair in violet sports jersey in front of giant poster of athlete in same uniform\" class=\"wp-image-13993426\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ValksFan_2000-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The author poses in front of a poster of Valkyries player Veronica Burton. (Ugur Dursun)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>About a dozen friends trickle in before the 7 p.m. tip-off for the first \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-state-valkyries\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a> game of the regular WNBA season, where the team convincingly defeats the Seattle Storm. I try my best to fill in newer fans on the team’s historic inaugural season, the players to watch, and how excited we should be to have Gabby Williams on our roster. I have become the go-to expert, despite not having touched a basketball since I was in middle school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When the Valkyries were announced in 2023 as the WNBA’s first expansion team since 2008, I must admit, I did not have much of a reaction beyond “that’s cool.” Aside from a couple of Olympics, I had never consistently followed any sport or league. And yet, that all changed when the Valkyries came to town. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I went to my first game at Chase Center, or “Ballhalla,” in June 2025, and was immediately hooked by the energy of the crowd, the colorway of the team, and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">DJs that spin certified bangers all night long\u003c/a>. Coincidentally, that was another game when the Valkyries came out on top against the Seattle Storm, which made my first Ballhalla experience all the more memorable.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13980949\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250819-VALKYRIESDJS_00605_TV-KQED-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">DJ Shellheart plays a set for the Golden State Valkyries during a game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Aug. 19, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the course of the team’s inaugural season, Ballhalla became known for having the toughest home crowd to play against, drawing parallels to the Warriors’ “Roaracle” era at the Oakland Arena. When the Valkyries beat the odds to reach playoffs, but could not play at Chase Center due to a scheduling conflict, fans declared \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056563/better-than-i-ever-dreamed-valkyries-fans-reflect-on-historic-first-season\">“Ballhalla is a mentality”\u003c/a> and brought their intensity to San José’s SAP Center. This season, the Valkyries will finally get to play some postseason games in Ballhalla, painting San Francisco all shades of violet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I describe the Valkyries fandom to my friends as “a sea of purple boarding the Muni bus.” Even during the offseason, you’ll notice people wearing Valkyries gear around the Bay Area — fans from all walks of life have embraced the team. Of course, it helps that women’s basketball isn’t completely new to the Bay Area. Some fans patiently waited for a new WNBA franchise after the team they once cheered for, the Sacramento Monarchs, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989177/monarchs-sacramento-wnba-team-history\">disbanded in 2009\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perhaps that’s why, at a time when multiple major league men’s sports teams have abandoned their Bay Area fans in favor of swankier new stadiums in Las Vegas, the WNBA is doubling down on the Valkyries’ popularity in the Bay Area by hosting the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095766/san-francisco-to-host-2027-wnba-all-star-game-at-chase-center\">2027 WNBA All-Star Game\u003c/a> in San Francisco. Sure, there was an official bid that Valkyries owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber placed to bring the event to the Bay Area; it’s not like the league came up with the idea. But the Valkyries (and the fans who sold out Ballhalla for every single game) are the reason why \u003cem>this\u003c/em> is the moment to host the first WNBA All-Star Game in California — where the Los Angeles Sparks have been hooping for 30 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"a purple bird mascot stands at center court over Valkyries logo\" class=\"wp-image-13993417\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-12-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet the Raven rallies the crowd during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sept. 17, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rooting for the Valkyries is easy, even if you aren’t the biggest sports fan. They were built by bringing together underutilized players from other teams in the league, with a philosophy of unselfish ball that lets everyone shine. It helps that they are doing exceptionally well this season, currently ranking second in the league, one spot above the reigning champions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s a relatability to their underdog narrative — we all feel like we’re being overlooked sometimes, like we could thrive if only someone knew our worth. In the Valkyries players’ case, it was the General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin and the coaching staff, led by Natalie Nakase, that understood what the players could bring to the team with the right push.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"Asian woman smiles in black hoodie during press coference\" class=\"wp-image-13993418\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/250501-ValkyriesOpenerTeamProfile-37-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I would be remiss not to mention the bad-faith political discourse that has clouded the league this season. Coach Nakase and Gabby Williams have both made powerful statements in support of inclusivity and acceptance in the league, with Williams saying, “I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime. I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of attack trans people.” Indeed, trans people make up \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/trans-women-in-sports-facts-over-fear\">less than 10 of 500,000 U.S. college athletes\u003c/a>, and even fewer Olympians, making the right-wing fearmongering look asinine at best.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In just over a year, the Valkyries have become a symbol of the Bay Area’s diversity and love of sports, a celebration of women, and a reason for another international event to arrive in San Francisco. As for me, I’ve become the point person for all-things Valkyries for my friends (and coworkers). I even spent my birthday this year in Philadelphia attending Unrivaled — a women’s basketball league co-founded by two WNBA stars to allow WNBA players to play domestically and earn income during the offseason. I’ve made and strengthened friendships over a shared love of women’s sports. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And, like any sports fanatic, I cannot wait for the day the Valkyries bring home the championship.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "The ‘Bitch Talk’ Podcast Will Fight Your Dancing Robot",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>It’s a sunny San Francisco day and \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/\">Bitch Talk\u003c/a>\u003c/em> podcast co-hosts Erin Lim and Angela Tabora are hanging out in the Social Study, the cozy Fillmore venue where they both work as bartenders. They are describing, very entertainingly, a recent afternoon downtown when they encountered crowds of tech professionals outside the Moscone Center applauding a dancing robot. Suddenly aghast, Tabora responded by putting herself front and center and instinctively flipping off the machine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This robot is dancing to ’70s funk, of all music!” she exclaims. “That’s soul music! For things with souls to dance to! And so I was flipping it off. There’s this whole crowd of people clapping with no rhythm, cheering it on, and I was just like, get me out of this fucking place.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is the story Lim and Tabora tell when asked how they’ve kept their culture podcast going for 13 years. Somehow, they’ve made it work as indie broadcasters in a region known for both its extreme affordability crisis and the creeping ubiquity of AI.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re inundated,” Lim sighs. “We’re being colonized by AI. But if we’re not here, then who’s going to take our place? It makes me sad with all the AI billboards everywhere and the people that come in thinking they know San Francisco, and they don’t. White saviors. They’re not curious about this space and they’re not willing to learn. But we’re here too.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Indeed, as frustrated as Lim and Tabora are about ever-encroaching tech and exorbitant rents, they remain absolutely dedicated to staying in the city, where they continue their mission of honoring local culture and communities. Lim was raised in San Leandro before moving to San Francisco in 2005. Tabora — who joined \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em> 100 episodes in, after original cohost Karyn Paige bowed out — is originally from Los Angeles, and moved to San Francisco in 1999.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The thing that keeps me loving San Francisco is that community,” Tabora says. “Artists, local business owners, musicians. Of course, a lot of [my old friends don’t] live in the city anymore. But good stuff’s still here. Things like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078524/hunky-jesus-contest-2026-foxy-mary-dolores-park-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-san-francisco-history-easter-in-the-park-what-time-how-to-enter\">Hunky Jesus\u003c/a>, the chili cook-off every year at \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOpOTCw5M0\">Standard Deviant Brewing\u003c/a>, all the film festivals. \u003cem>So many\u003c/em> film festivals. That’s what keeps me going.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes.jpeg\" alt=\"A Black man wearing a yellow outfit and very tall misshapen hat sits on a movie theater stage talking into a mic. To his left are two Asian women sitting in directors' chairs and laughing uproariously.\" class=\"wp-image-13993187\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes-160x120.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lim and Tabora on stage at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley, moderating a Q&A with Boots Riley, after a screening of ‘I Love Boosters,’ May 2026. (Steve Rhodes)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em>, now approaching 1,000 episodes, is a labor of love for Lim and Tabora. The pair, who self-fund the podcast with the help of sporadic fundraisers and occasional sponsorships, first met while working at a television production company in Marin. Lim still works as an audio journalist for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kalw.org/\">KALW\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve gotten advice from people that we really respect, that have gone far in this industry, that have told us, ‘To become more mainstream, I think you need to change the name,’” Tabora says. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We will stick with \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em>, thanks,” Lim adds. “I don’t care. Where’s my pearls?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lim and Tabora’s podcast started as a gathering of friends, led by Lim, who got together over a bottle of whiskey to discuss pop culture and events of the day. The show was specifically designed to fight back against the overwhelmingly “pale and male” (as Lim puts it) nature of podcasting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over time, due in part to Lim’s background in movie PR and Tabora’s ongoing work in documentary filmmaking, \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em> expanded from a chat and analysis show into one that also focused on moviemakers and film festivals, as well as local events, actors and musicians. When Lim and Tabora aren’t reviewing, they’re interviewing the likes of Barry Jenkins, W. Kamau Bell, Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Daveed Diggs and Ruby Ibarra. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When they’re not interviewing, they talk to each other and their audience in so-called ‘Basic Bitch’ episodes, in which they visit their favorite locations around the Bay and explain why they’re special. (A September 2025 episode recorded in Costco is one of the finest examples of this.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think the beauty of our podcast is we don’t have anyone to answer to,” Tabora says. “So we don’t have to focus on any one thing.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1177\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize.jpg\" alt=\"Two middle aged, colorfully dressed women of Asian descent sit at a bar table, sipping cocktails with microphones set up in front of them.\" class=\"wp-image-13993275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize-160x94.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize-768x452.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize-1536x904.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ange Tabora and Erin Lim. (Chloe Jackman)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The duo’s efforts and outspoken style have not gone unnoticed, winning Best Podcast honors from \u003cem>San Francisco Magazine\u003c/em>’s Best of the Bay awards for three years straight between 2022 and 2024. One of the most appealing elements of Lim and Tabora’s work together is their chemistry. They’ve been friends and coworkers for so long, they frequently finish each other’s sentences. They are also unintentionally hilarious, with Lim often playing the straight (wo)man during Tabora’s wildcard moments.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have grown a lot together,” Tabora tells KQED earnestly. “I think we push each other. She fills my holes and vice versa.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lim quickly glares at Tabora.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Gaps! I mean gaps, not holes!” Tabora corrects. “You know what I mean? Like, she does the things that I don’t do so well, and vice versa.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We complement each other,” Lim affirms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Oh God, please don’t say we fill each other’s holes!” laughs the mortified Tabora, head in hands. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of the benefits of Lim and Tabora’s chatty, comedic exteriors is their ability to share political content in an easily digestible manner. Earlier this year, they created an \u003ca href=\"https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/activism-1\">activism\u003c/a> page on their website that categorizes their back catalog according to topic: LGBTQ+, race, and women’s rights. So many episodes in, the hosts are aware that they’ve quietly built an important archive of activist information.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just think we’ve done all this work, and all these interviews, and watched all these films,” Lim says. “If you are even thinking about [activism] or have a question about it, we have the resources. Our podcast has social impact — and I hate using that term — but it’s true.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So, what’s next for \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em>? Their first major fundraiser is happening in October, so they can keep the podcast afloat for another year. Lim and Tabora are also learning to lean into middle age as loudly and proudly as possible.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re kind of the first generation that looks and acts this way as middle-aged bitches.” Tabora says. “I’m proud of that. We’re not trying to defy science. We’re talking about first colonoscopies, perimenopause, my hysterectomy. I want to talk about these things, especially in the space of social media and Hollywood — so much anti-aging everywhere. Don’t make me bust out my pocket fan!”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s why we call ourselves the \u003cem>Golden Girls\u003c/em> of podcasting,” Lim adds, “because we are.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re inundated,” Lim sighs. “We’re being colonized by AI. But if we’re not here, then who’s going to take our place? It makes me sad with all the AI billboards everywhere and the people that come in thinking they know San Francisco, and they don’t. White saviors. They’re not curious about this space and they’re not willing to learn. But we’re here too.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re inundated,” Lim sighs. “We’re being colonized by AI. But if we’re not here, then who’s going to take our place? It makes me sad with all the AI billboards everywhere and the people that come in thinking they know San Francisco, and they don’t. White saviors. They’re not curious about this space and they’re not willing to learn. But we’re here too.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Indeed, as frustrated as Lim and Tabora are about ever-encroaching tech and exorbitant rents, they remain absolutely dedicated to staying in the city, where they continue their mission of honoring local culture and communities. Lim was raised in San Leandro before moving to San Francisco in 2005. Tabora — who joined \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em> 100 episodes in, after original cohost Karyn Paige bowed out — is originally from Los Angeles, and moved to San Francisco in 1999.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The thing that keeps me loving San Francisco is that community,” Tabora says. “Artists, local business owners, musicians. Of course, a lot of [my old friends don’t] live in the city anymore. But good stuff’s still here. Things like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078524/hunky-jesus-contest-2026-foxy-mary-dolores-park-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-san-francisco-history-easter-in-the-park-what-time-how-to-enter\">Hunky Jesus\u003c/a>, the chili cook-off every year at \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOpOTCw5M0\">Standard Deviant Brewing\u003c/a>, all the film festivals. \u003cem>So many\u003c/em> film festivals. That’s what keeps me going.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em>, now approaching 1,000 episodes, is a labor of love for Lim and Tabora. The pair, who self-fund the podcast with the help of sporadic fundraisers and occasional sponsorships, first met while working at a television production company in Marin. Lim still works as an audio journalist for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kalw.org/\">KALW\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lim and Tabora’s podcast started as a gathering of friends, led by Lim, who got together over a bottle of whiskey to discuss pop culture and events of the day. The show was specifically designed to fight back against the overwhelmingly “pale and male” (as Lim puts it) nature of podcasting.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lim and Tabora’s podcast started as a gathering of friends, led by Lim, who got together over a bottle of whiskey to discuss pop culture and events of the day. The show was specifically designed to fight back against the overwhelmingly “pale and male” (as Lim puts it) nature of podcasting.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over time, due in part to Lim’s background in movie PR and Tabora’s ongoing work in documentary filmmaking, \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em> expanded from a chat and analysis show into one that also focused on moviemakers and film festivals, as well as local events, actors and musicians. When Lim and Tabora aren’t reviewing, they’re interviewing the likes of Barry Jenkins, W. Kamau Bell, Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Daveed Diggs and Ruby Ibarra. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over time, due in part to Lim’s background in movie PR and Tabora’s ongoing work in documentary filmmaking, \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em> expanded from a chat and analysis show into one that also focused on moviemakers and film festivals, as well as local events, actors and musicians. When Lim and Tabora aren’t reviewing, they’re interviewing the likes of Barry Jenkins, W. Kamau Bell, Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Daveed Diggs and Ruby Ibarra. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The duo’s efforts and outspoken style have not gone unnoticed, winning Best Podcast honors from \u003cem>San Francisco Magazine\u003c/em>’s Best of the Bay awards for three years straight between 2022 and 2024. One of the most appealing elements of Lim and Tabora’s work together is their chemistry. They’ve been friends and coworkers for so long, they frequently finish each other’s sentences. They are also unintentionally hilarious, with Lim often playing the straight (wo)man during Tabora’s wildcard moments.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Gaps! I mean gaps, not holes!” Tabora corrects. “You know what I mean? Like, she does the things that I don’t do so well, and vice versa.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Oh God, please don’t say we fill each other’s holes!” laughs the mortified Tabora, head in hands. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One of the benefits of Lim and Tabora’s chatty, comedic exteriors is their ability to share political content in an easily digestible manner. Earlier this year, they created an \u003ca href=\"https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/activism-1\">activism\u003c/a> page on their website that categorizes their back catalog according to topic: LGBTQ+, race, and women’s rights. So many episodes in, the hosts are aware that they’ve quietly built an important archive of activist information.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So, what’s next for \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em>? Their first major fundraiser is happening in October, so they can keep the podcast afloat for another year. Lim and Tabora are also learning to lean into middle age as loudly and proudly as possible.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re kind of the first generation that looks and acts this way as middle-aged bitches.” Tabora says. “I’m proud of that. We’re not trying to defy science. We’re talking about first colonoscopies, perimenopause, my hysterectomy. I want to talk about these things, especially in the space of social media and Hollywood — so much anti-aging everywhere. Don’t make me bust out my pocket fan!”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Hosts Erin Lim and Ange Tabora have spent 13 years and 1,000 episodes celebrating the Bay and AAPI pop culture.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>It’s a sunny San Francisco day and \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/\">Bitch Talk\u003c/a>\u003c/em> podcast co-hosts Erin Lim and Angela Tabora are hanging out in the Social Study, the cozy Fillmore venue where they both work as bartenders. They are describing, very entertainingly, a recent afternoon downtown when they encountered crowds of tech professionals outside the Moscone Center applauding a dancing robot. Suddenly aghast, Tabora responded by putting herself front and center and instinctively flipping off the machine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This robot is dancing to ’70s funk, of all music!” she exclaims. “That’s soul music! For things with souls to dance to! And so I was flipping it off. There’s this whole crowd of people clapping with no rhythm, cheering it on, and I was just like, get me out of this fucking place.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is the story Lim and Tabora tell when asked how they’ve kept their culture podcast going for 13 years. Somehow, they’ve made it work as indie broadcasters in a region known for both its extreme affordability crisis and the creeping ubiquity of AI.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re inundated,” Lim sighs. “We’re being colonized by AI. But if we’re not here, then who’s going to take our place? It makes me sad with all the AI billboards everywhere and the people that come in thinking they know San Francisco, and they don’t. White saviors. They’re not curious about this space and they’re not willing to learn. But we’re here too.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Indeed, as frustrated as Lim and Tabora are about ever-encroaching tech and exorbitant rents, they remain absolutely dedicated to staying in the city, where they continue their mission of honoring local culture and communities. Lim was raised in San Leandro before moving to San Francisco in 2005. Tabora — who joined \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em> 100 episodes in, after original cohost Karyn Paige bowed out — is originally from Los Angeles, and moved to San Francisco in 1999.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The thing that keeps me loving San Francisco is that community,” Tabora says. “Artists, local business owners, musicians. Of course, a lot of [my old friends don’t] live in the city anymore. But good stuff’s still here. Things like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078524/hunky-jesus-contest-2026-foxy-mary-dolores-park-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-san-francisco-history-easter-in-the-park-what-time-how-to-enter\">Hunky Jesus\u003c/a>, the chili cook-off every year at \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOpOTCw5M0\">Standard Deviant Brewing\u003c/a>, all the film festivals. \u003cem>So many\u003c/em> film festivals. That’s what keeps me going.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes.jpeg\" alt=\"A Black man wearing a yellow outfit and very tall misshapen hat sits on a movie theater stage talking into a mic. To his left are two Asian women sitting in directors' chairs and laughing uproariously.\" class=\"wp-image-13993187\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes-160x120.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lim and Tabora on stage at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley, moderating a Q&A with Boots Riley, after a screening of ‘I Love Boosters,’ May 2026. (Steve Rhodes)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em>, now approaching 1,000 episodes, is a labor of love for Lim and Tabora. The pair, who self-fund the podcast with the help of sporadic fundraisers and occasional sponsorships, first met while working at a television production company in Marin. Lim still works as an audio journalist for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kalw.org/\">KALW\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve gotten advice from people that we really respect, that have gone far in this industry, that have told us, ‘To become more mainstream, I think you need to change the name,’” Tabora says. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We will stick with \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em>, thanks,” Lim adds. “I don’t care. Where’s my pearls?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lim and Tabora’s podcast started as a gathering of friends, led by Lim, who got together over a bottle of whiskey to discuss pop culture and events of the day. The show was specifically designed to fight back against the overwhelmingly “pale and male” (as Lim puts it) nature of podcasting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over time, due in part to Lim’s background in movie PR and Tabora’s ongoing work in documentary filmmaking, \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em> expanded from a chat and analysis show into one that also focused on moviemakers and film festivals, as well as local events, actors and musicians. When Lim and Tabora aren’t reviewing, they’re interviewing the likes of Barry Jenkins, W. Kamau Bell, Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Daveed Diggs and Ruby Ibarra. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When they’re not interviewing, they talk to each other and their audience in so-called ‘Basic Bitch’ episodes, in which they visit their favorite locations around the Bay and explain why they’re special. (A September 2025 episode recorded in Costco is one of the finest examples of this.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think the beauty of our podcast is we don’t have anyone to answer to,” Tabora says. “So we don’t have to focus on any one thing.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1177\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize.jpg\" alt=\"Two middle aged, colorfully dressed women of Asian descent sit at a bar table, sipping cocktails with microphones set up in front of them.\" class=\"wp-image-13993275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize-160x94.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize-768x452.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize-1536x904.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ange Tabora and Erin Lim. (Chloe Jackman)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The duo’s efforts and outspoken style have not gone unnoticed, winning Best Podcast honors from \u003cem>San Francisco Magazine\u003c/em>’s Best of the Bay awards for three years straight between 2022 and 2024. One of the most appealing elements of Lim and Tabora’s work together is their chemistry. They’ve been friends and coworkers for so long, they frequently finish each other’s sentences. They are also unintentionally hilarious, with Lim often playing the straight (wo)man during Tabora’s wildcard moments.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have grown a lot together,” Tabora tells KQED earnestly. “I think we push each other. She fills my holes and vice versa.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lim quickly glares at Tabora.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Gaps! I mean gaps, not holes!” Tabora corrects. “You know what I mean? Like, she does the things that I don’t do so well, and vice versa.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We complement each other,” Lim affirms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Oh God, please don’t say we fill each other’s holes!” laughs the mortified Tabora, head in hands. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of the benefits of Lim and Tabora’s chatty, comedic exteriors is their ability to share political content in an easily digestible manner. Earlier this year, they created an \u003ca href=\"https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/activism-1\">activism\u003c/a> page on their website that categorizes their back catalog according to topic: LGBTQ+, race, and women’s rights. So many episodes in, the hosts are aware that they’ve quietly built an important archive of activist information.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just think we’ve done all this work, and all these interviews, and watched all these films,” Lim says. “If you are even thinking about [activism] or have a question about it, we have the resources. Our podcast has social impact — and I hate using that term — but it’s true.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So, what’s next for \u003cem>Bitch Talk\u003c/em>? Their first major fundraiser is happening in October, so they can keep the podcast afloat for another year. Lim and Tabora are also learning to lean into middle age as loudly and proudly as possible.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re kind of the first generation that looks and acts this way as middle-aged bitches.” Tabora says. “I’m proud of that. We’re not trying to defy science. We’re talking about first colonoscopies, perimenopause, my hysterectomy. I want to talk about these things, especially in the space of social media and Hollywood — so much anti-aging everywhere. Don’t make me bust out my pocket fan!”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s why we call ourselves the \u003cem>Golden Girls\u003c/em> of podcasting,” Lim adds, “because we are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "bay-area-restaurants-pay-what-you-can-2026-reems-bombera-sfizio",
"title": "These 9 Bay Area Restaurants Are Asking You to Pay What You Can",
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"content": "\u003cp>It started with a simple idea: In this time when dining out is an increasingly unattainable proposition for so many people, what if restaurants took money out of the equation? What if — for one day, at least — diners only had to pay however much they could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">afford\u003c/a>?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This was the vision that Mexico City chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval had when they started hosting “Paga Lo Que Puedas” days at their now-Michelin-starred restaurant Masala y Maiz. They weren’t the first restaurant owners to experiment with a Pay What You Can model, but they may be the first to try to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988641/pay-what-you-can-bay-area-restaurants-reems-bombera-masala-y-maiz-oakland-sf\">turn it into a worldwide movement\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This Wednesday, Aug. 26, will be the first \u003cem>global\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.pagaloquepuedas-paywhatyoucan.com/\">Paga Lo Que Puedas day\u003c/a>, a Masala y Maiz–organized initiative that has prompted more than 100 restaurants worldwide to sign up, including nine in the Bay Area. For this one day, these restaurants will serve their regular menus, and diners who come can order whatever they like and pay whatever amount they choose — nothing, even, if that’s all they can afford. (Drinks will still be full price.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri.jpg\" alt=\"In an outdoor courtyard, a man and woman in blue aprons prepare banana-leaf tamales in a large pot.\" class=\"wp-image-13987862\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Norma Listman and Saqib Keval cooking at the first iteration of their Mexico City restaurant, Masala y Maiz. The chefs are organizing the first global Paga Lo Que Puedas initiative on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (Sana Javeri Kadri, courtesy of Masala y Maiz)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The restaurant industry generally is kind of shitty … and it’s really easy to get caught in that spiral of everything that’s wrong about the industry,” says Keval, who’s probably best known in the Bay Area as one of the co-founders of Oakland-based \u003ca href=\"https://peopleskitchencollective.com/\">People’s Kitchen Collective\u003c/a> food justice organization. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But this wave of interest from restaurants all over the world made me feel hopeful,” he says. It made me see that we’re not alone.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is where Keval and Listman \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13987839/masala-y-maiz-mexico-city-restaurant-oakland-bay-area-roots\">first met and fell in love\u003c/a>, and where they began their years-long collaboration in creating community-oriented food spaces. So they’d been hopeful that there would be a strong Bay Area turnout for this initiative. The nine Bay Area participants run the gamut from casual pasta counters (Sfizio in Oakland and Pasta Supply Co. in SF) to upscale Mexican (Bombera in Oakland and Acopio Alta Cocina in San José) and a wine country clam shack (Sonoma’s Valley Swim Club). \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If there’s any commonality between the restaurants, Keval says, it’s these are the exact places he would have predicted would sign up for the initiative. These are the restaurants that have an explicit focus on social consciousness and aren’t shy about being outspoken with their activism. That includes places like \u003ca href=\"https://www.reemscalifornia.com/\">Reem’s\u003c/a>, slinger of the California-influenced Palestinian flatbreads known as man’oushe, which recently shifted to a \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/24/reems-california-jack-london-square/\">worker-owned business model\u003c/a> for its new Jack London Square storefront in Oakland. Worker collective–owned \u003ca href=\"https://understoryoakland.com/\">Understory\u003c/a>, meanwhile, is joining the initiative as an extension of its own Pay What You Can program, which it offers daily in the form of a single entree.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16.jpg\" alt=\"Sun-dappled table inside a sunny restaurant dining room.\" class=\"wp-image-13993318\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A picturesque table at Bombera in Oakland. (Clara Rice, courtesy of Bombera)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As Keval puts it, “They’re the people who I know I can always count on — that are always the first to step up for community and the first to use their restaurants as tools to create change.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In truth, Keval admits he wishes that \u003cem>more \u003c/em>Bay Area restaurants had signed up, particularly in the fine dining sector. Albi and Oyster Oyster, two participants in Washington, D.C., are both Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants; New York’s Caribbean hotspot Kabawa, which topped several \u003ca href=\"https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-restaurants-2026-11919583\">best restaurant\u003c/a> lists \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/dining/best-nyc-restaurants.html\">this year\u003c/a>, occupies a similarly rarefied, high-end space. And Masala y Maiz itself has a Michelin star.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, no restaurants in that tier are participating this year. But Keval believes it would send a powerful message if they did. After all, he says, the cost of operating a restaurant and the cost of dining out have both gone up so much that it’s caused many restaurants to become segregated along lines of race and class.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In areas like the Bay Area, where this is pushed to the extreme, it makes it feel like the only people who get to experience a certain style of hospitality are the people who can afford to pay for it,” he says. “And that goes against why so many of us joined the [restaurant] industry in the first place.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie.jpg\" alt=\"A dish of mussels in a red sauce, with rolls of bread on the side.\" class=\"wp-image-13987863\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A plate of Balchão-style mussels at Masala y Maiz in Mexico City. (Ana Lorenzana, courtesy of Masala y Maiz)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what if restaurants like, say, The French Laundry or Chez Panisse were accessible to \u003cem>anyone\u003c/em>, at least for one day? How would that change people’s perspectives on who and what fine dining is for? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What’s the point of it if it’s so exclusive?” Keval says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>His hope is that by soliciting feedback from this year’s participants, he’ll get a better sense of how restaurants across different cultures, price points and service styles experienced the Pay What You Can model — and that next year, even more restaurants, including fine dining restaurants, will be inspired to join.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In Keval’s experience, for instance, Masala y Maiz doesn’t actually lose money on the Paga Lo Que Puedas days. Some diners pay very little or dine for free, but that’s offset by wealthier patrons who willingly pay more to help subsidize those meals.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the end, isn’t that what community is all about?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What we’re trying to do, ultimately,” Keval says, “is build a global community of like-minded chefs and restaurateurs that are trying to create change.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>See the full list of Bay Area restaurants participating in this year’s Paga Lo Que Puedas initiative below:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcei0tPIJ_J/?img_index=1\">Bombera\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reemscalifornia/\">Reem’s\u003c/a> (Jack London Square location only; the Mission restaurant is \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DbYoCqbMJKr/\">temporarily closed\u003c/a>) \u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfiziopasta/\">Sfizio\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcfFMUCGicq/?img_index=1\">Tacos Oscar\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcfEEUPm8dn/?img_index=1\">Understory\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/merkadosf/\">Merkado\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/pastasupplyco/\">Pasta Supply Co.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>San José\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DbytnYWy_Ig/\">Acopio Alta Cocina \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DYx7cHCjieW/\">Valley Swim Club\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Correction:\u003c/em> \u003cem>An earlier version of this story omitted Tacos Oscar, which is also participating in the Aug. 26 Pay What You Can initiative.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This Wednesday, Aug. 26, will be the first \u003cem>global\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.pagaloquepuedas-paywhatyoucan.com/\">Paga Lo Que Puedas day\u003c/a>, a Masala y Maiz–organized initiative that has prompted more than 100 restaurants worldwide to sign up, including nine in the Bay Area. For this one day, these restaurants will serve their regular menus, and diners who come can order whatever they like and pay whatever amount they choose — nothing, even, if that’s all they can afford. (Drinks will still be full price.)\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This Wednesday, Aug. 26, will be the first \u003cem>global\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.pagaloquepuedas-paywhatyoucan.com/\">Paga Lo Que Puedas day\u003c/a>, a Masala y Maiz–organized initiative that has prompted more than 100 restaurants worldwide to sign up, including nine in the Bay Area. For this one day, these restaurants will serve their regular menus, and diners who come can order whatever they like and pay whatever amount they choose — nothing, even, if that’s all they can afford. (Drinks will still be full price.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri.jpg\" alt=\"In an outdoor courtyard, a man and woman in blue aprons prepare banana-leaf tamales in a large pot.\" class=\"wp-image-13987862\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Norma Listman and Saqib Keval cooking at the first iteration of their Mexico City restaurant, Masala y Maiz. The chefs are organizing the first global Paga Lo Que Puedas initiative on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri.jpg\" alt=\"In an outdoor courtyard, a man and woman in blue aprons prepare banana-leaf tamales in a large pot.\" class=\"wp-image-13987862\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Norma Listman and Saqib Keval cooking at the first iteration of their Mexico City restaurant, Masala y Maiz. The chefs are organizing the first global Paga Lo Que Puedas initiative on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The restaurant industry generally is kind of shitty … and it’s really easy to get caught in that spiral of everything that’s wrong about the industry,” says Keval, who’s probably best known in the Bay Area as one of the co-founders of Oakland-based \u003ca href=\"https://peopleskitchencollective.com/\">People’s Kitchen Collective\u003c/a> food justice organization. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The restaurant industry generally is kind of shitty … and it’s really easy to get caught in that spiral of everything that’s wrong about the industry,” says Keval, who’s probably best known in the Bay Area as one of the co-founders of Oakland-based \u003ca href=\"https://peopleskitchencollective.com/\">People’s Kitchen Collective\u003c/a> food justice organization. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“But this wave of interest from restaurants all over the world made me feel hopeful,” he says. It made me see that we’re not alone.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“But this wave of interest from restaurants all over the world made me feel hopeful,” he says. It made me see that we’re not alone.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is where Keval and Listman \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13987839/masala-y-maiz-mexico-city-restaurant-oakland-bay-area-roots\">first met and fell in love\u003c/a>, and where they began their years-long collaboration in creating community-oriented food spaces. So they’d been hopeful that there would be a strong Bay Area turnout for this initiative. The nine Bay Area participants run the gamut from casual pasta counters (Sfizio in Oakland and Pasta Supply Co. in SF) to upscale Mexican (Bombera in Oakland and Acopio Alta Cocina in San José) and a wine country clam shack (Sonoma’s Valley Swim Club). \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is where Keval and Listman \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13987839/masala-y-maiz-mexico-city-restaurant-oakland-bay-area-roots\">first met and fell in love\u003c/a>, and where they began their years-long collaboration in creating community-oriented food spaces. So they’d been hopeful that there would be a strong Bay Area turnout for this initiative. The nine Bay Area participants run the gamut from casual pasta counters (Sfizio in Oakland and Pasta Supply Co. in SF) to upscale Mexican (Bombera in Oakland and Acopio Alta Cocina in San José) and a wine country clam shack (Sonoma’s Valley Swim Club). \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If there’s any commonality between the restaurants, Keval says, it’s these are the exact places he would have predicted would sign up for the initiative. These are the restaurants that have an explicit focus on social consciousness and aren’t shy about being outspoken with their activism. That includes places like \u003ca href=\"https://www.reemscalifornia.com/\">Reem’s\u003c/a>, slinger of the California-influenced Palestinian flatbreads known as man’oushe, which recently shifted to a \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/24/reems-california-jack-london-square/\">worker-owned business model\u003c/a> for its new Jack London Square storefront in Oakland. Worker collective–owned \u003ca href=\"https://understoryoakland.com/\">Understory\u003c/a>, meanwhile, is joining the initiative as an extension of its own Pay What You Can program, which it offers daily in the form of a single entree.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If there’s any commonality between the restaurants, Keval says, it’s these are the exact places he would have predicted would sign up for the initiative. These are the restaurants that have an explicit focus on social consciousness and aren’t shy about being outspoken with their activism. That includes places like \u003ca href=\"https://www.reemscalifornia.com/\">Reem’s\u003c/a>, slinger of the California-influenced Palestinian flatbreads known as man’oushe, which recently shifted to a \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/24/reems-california-jack-london-square/\">worker-owned business model\u003c/a> for its new Jack London Square storefront in Oakland. Worker collective–owned \u003ca href=\"https://understoryoakland.com/\">Understory\u003c/a>, meanwhile, is joining the initiative as an extension of its own Pay What You Can program, which it offers daily in the form of a single entree.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16.jpg\" alt=\"Sun-dappled table inside a sunny restaurant dining room.\" class=\"wp-image-13993318\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A picturesque table at Bombera in Oakland.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16.jpg\" alt=\"Sun-dappled table inside a sunny restaurant dining room.\" class=\"wp-image-13993318\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A picturesque table at Bombera in Oakland.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As Keval puts it, “They’re the people who I know I can always count on — that are always the first to step up for community and the first to use their restaurants as tools to create change.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As Keval puts it, “They’re the people who I know I can always count on — that are always the first to step up for community and the first to use their restaurants as tools to create change.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In truth, Keval admits he wishes that \u003cem>more \u003c/em>Bay Area restaurants had signed up, particularly in the fine dining sector. Albi and Oyster Oyster, two participants in Washington, D.C., are both Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants; New York’s Caribbean hotspot Kabawa, which topped several \u003ca href=\"https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-restaurants-2026-11919583\">best restaurant\u003c/a> lists \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/dining/best-nyc-restaurants.html\">this year\u003c/a>, occupies a similarly rarefied, high-end space. And Masala y Maiz itself has a Michelin star.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In truth, Keval admits he wishes that \u003cem>more \u003c/em>Bay Area restaurants had signed up, particularly in the fine dining sector. Albi and Oyster Oyster, two participants in Washington, D.C., are both Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants; New York’s Caribbean hotspot Kabawa, which topped several \u003ca href=\"https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-restaurants-2026-11919583\">best restaurant\u003c/a> lists \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/dining/best-nyc-restaurants.html\">this year\u003c/a>, occupies a similarly rarefied, high-end space. And Masala y Maiz itself has a Michelin star.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, no restaurants in that tier are participating this year. But Keval believes it would send a powerful message if they did. After all, he says, the cost of operating a restaurant and the cost of dining out have both gone up so much that it’s caused many restaurants to become segregated along lines of race and class.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, no restaurants in that tier are participating this year. But Keval believes it would send a powerful message if they did. After all, he says, the cost of operating a restaurant and the cost of dining out have both gone up so much that it’s caused many restaurants to become segregated along lines of race and class.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In areas like the Bay Area, where this is pushed to the extreme, it makes it feel like the only people who get to experience a certain style of hospitality are the people who can afford to pay for it,” he says. “And that goes against why so many of us joined the [restaurant] industry in the first place.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“In areas like the Bay Area, where this is pushed to the extreme, it makes it feel like the only people who get to experience a certain style of hospitality are the people who can afford to pay for it,” he says. “And that goes against why so many of us joined the [restaurant] industry in the first place.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie.jpg\" alt=\"A dish of mussels in a red sauce, with rolls of bread on the side.\" class=\"wp-image-13987863\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A plate of Balchão-style mussels at Masala y Maiz in Mexico City.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie.jpg\" alt=\"A dish of mussels in a red sauce, with rolls of bread on the side.\" class=\"wp-image-13987863\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A plate of Balchão-style mussels at Masala y Maiz in Mexico City.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But what if restaurants like, say, The French Laundry or Chez Panisse were accessible to \u003cem>anyone\u003c/em>, at least for one day? How would that change people’s perspectives on who and what fine dining is for? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But what if restaurants like, say, The French Laundry or Chez Panisse were accessible to \u003cem>anyone\u003c/em>, at least for one day? How would that change people’s perspectives on who and what fine dining is for? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What’s the point of it if it’s so exclusive?” Keval says.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“What’s the point of it if it’s so exclusive?” Keval says.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>His hope is that by soliciting feedback from this year’s participants, he’ll get a better sense of how restaurants across different cultures, price points and service styles experienced the Pay What You Can model — and that next year, even more restaurants, including fine dining restaurants, will be inspired to join.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>His hope is that by soliciting feedback from this year’s participants, he’ll get a better sense of how restaurants across different cultures, price points and service styles experienced the Pay What You Can model — and that next year, even more restaurants, including fine dining restaurants, will be inspired to join.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In Keval’s experience, for instance, Masala y Maiz doesn’t actually lose money on the Paga Lo Que Puedas days. Some diners pay very little or dine for free, but that’s offset by wealthier patrons who willingly pay more to help subsidize those meals.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In Keval’s experience, for instance, Masala y Maiz doesn’t actually lose money on the Paga Lo Que Puedas days. Some diners pay very little or dine for free, but that’s offset by wealthier patrons who willingly pay more to help subsidize those meals.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the end, isn’t that what community is all about?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the end, isn’t that what community is all about?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What we’re trying to do, ultimately,” Keval says, “is build a global community of like-minded chefs and restaurateurs that are trying to create change.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“What we’re trying to do, ultimately,” Keval says, “is build a global community of like-minded chefs and restaurateurs that are trying to create change.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>See the full list of Bay Area restaurants participating in this year’s Paga Lo Que Puedas initiative below:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>See the full list of Bay Area restaurants participating in this year’s Paga Lo Que Puedas initiative below:\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Oakland",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcei0tPIJ_J/?img_index=1\">Bombera\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reemscalifornia/\">Reem’s\u003c/a> (Jack London Square location only; the Mission restaurant is \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DbYoCqbMJKr/\">temporarily closed\u003c/a>) \u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfiziopasta/\">Sfizio\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcfFMUCGicq/?img_index=1\">Tacos Oscar\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcfEEUPm8dn/?img_index=1\">Understory\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcei0tPIJ_J/?img_index=1\">Bombera\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reemscalifornia/\">Reem’s\u003c/a> (Jack London Square location only; the Mission restaurant is \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DbYoCqbMJKr/\">temporarily closed\u003c/a>) \u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfiziopasta/\">Sfizio\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcfFMUCGicq/?img_index=1\">Tacos Oscar\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcfEEUPm8dn/?img_index=1\">Understory\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/merkadosf/\">Merkado\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/pastasupplyco/\">Pasta Supply Co.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/merkadosf/\">Merkado\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/pastasupplyco/\">Pasta Supply Co.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Reem’s, Bombera, Pasta Supply Co. and more join a global initiative on Aug. 26.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It started with a simple idea: In this time when dining out is an increasingly unattainable proposition for so many people, what if restaurants took money out of the equation? What if — for one day, at least — diners only had to pay however much they could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">afford\u003c/a>?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This was the vision that Mexico City chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval had when they started hosting “Paga Lo Que Puedas” days at their now-Michelin-starred restaurant Masala y Maiz. They weren’t the first restaurant owners to experiment with a Pay What You Can model, but they may be the first to try to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988641/pay-what-you-can-bay-area-restaurants-reems-bombera-masala-y-maiz-oakland-sf\">turn it into a worldwide movement\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This Wednesday, Aug. 26, will be the first \u003cem>global\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.pagaloquepuedas-paywhatyoucan.com/\">Paga Lo Que Puedas day\u003c/a>, a Masala y Maiz–organized initiative that has prompted more than 100 restaurants worldwide to sign up, including nine in the Bay Area. For this one day, these restaurants will serve their regular menus, and diners who come can order whatever they like and pay whatever amount they choose — nothing, even, if that’s all they can afford. (Drinks will still be full price.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri.jpg\" alt=\"In an outdoor courtyard, a man and woman in blue aprons prepare banana-leaf tamales in a large pot.\" class=\"wp-image-13987862\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/8_PhotoCredit-Sana-Javeri-Kadri-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Norma Listman and Saqib Keval cooking at the first iteration of their Mexico City restaurant, Masala y Maiz. The chefs are organizing the first global Paga Lo Que Puedas initiative on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (Sana Javeri Kadri, courtesy of Masala y Maiz)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The restaurant industry generally is kind of shitty … and it’s really easy to get caught in that spiral of everything that’s wrong about the industry,” says Keval, who’s probably best known in the Bay Area as one of the co-founders of Oakland-based \u003ca href=\"https://peopleskitchencollective.com/\">People’s Kitchen Collective\u003c/a> food justice organization. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But this wave of interest from restaurants all over the world made me feel hopeful,” he says. It made me see that we’re not alone.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is where Keval and Listman \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13987839/masala-y-maiz-mexico-city-restaurant-oakland-bay-area-roots\">first met and fell in love\u003c/a>, and where they began their years-long collaboration in creating community-oriented food spaces. So they’d been hopeful that there would be a strong Bay Area turnout for this initiative. The nine Bay Area participants run the gamut from casual pasta counters (Sfizio in Oakland and Pasta Supply Co. in SF) to upscale Mexican (Bombera in Oakland and Acopio Alta Cocina in San José) and a wine country clam shack (Sonoma’s Valley Swim Club). \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If there’s any commonality between the restaurants, Keval says, it’s these are the exact places he would have predicted would sign up for the initiative. These are the restaurants that have an explicit focus on social consciousness and aren’t shy about being outspoken with their activism. That includes places like \u003ca href=\"https://www.reemscalifornia.com/\">Reem’s\u003c/a>, slinger of the California-influenced Palestinian flatbreads known as man’oushe, which recently shifted to a \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/24/reems-california-jack-london-square/\">worker-owned business model\u003c/a> for its new Jack London Square storefront in Oakland. Worker collective–owned \u003ca href=\"https://understoryoakland.com/\">Understory\u003c/a>, meanwhile, is joining the initiative as an extension of its own Pay What You Can program, which it offers daily in the form of a single entree.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16.jpg\" alt=\"Sun-dappled table inside a sunny restaurant dining room.\" class=\"wp-image-13993318\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Bombera-Jan2024-16-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A picturesque table at Bombera in Oakland. (Clara Rice, courtesy of Bombera)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As Keval puts it, “They’re the people who I know I can always count on — that are always the first to step up for community and the first to use their restaurants as tools to create change.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In truth, Keval admits he wishes that \u003cem>more \u003c/em>Bay Area restaurants had signed up, particularly in the fine dining sector. Albi and Oyster Oyster, two participants in Washington, D.C., are both Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants; New York’s Caribbean hotspot Kabawa, which topped several \u003ca href=\"https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-restaurants-2026-11919583\">best restaurant\u003c/a> lists \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/dining/best-nyc-restaurants.html\">this year\u003c/a>, occupies a similarly rarefied, high-end space. And Masala y Maiz itself has a Michelin star.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, no restaurants in that tier are participating this year. But Keval believes it would send a powerful message if they did. After all, he says, the cost of operating a restaurant and the cost of dining out have both gone up so much that it’s caused many restaurants to become segregated along lines of race and class.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In areas like the Bay Area, where this is pushed to the extreme, it makes it feel like the only people who get to experience a certain style of hospitality are the people who can afford to pay for it,” he says. “And that goes against why so many of us joined the [restaurant] industry in the first place.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie.jpg\" alt=\"A dish of mussels in a red sauce, with rolls of bread on the side.\" class=\"wp-image-13987863\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Credit_Ana-Lorenzana_PlatilloAlmejas3-copie-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A plate of Balchão-style mussels at Masala y Maiz in Mexico City. (Ana Lorenzana, courtesy of Masala y Maiz)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what if restaurants like, say, The French Laundry or Chez Panisse were accessible to \u003cem>anyone\u003c/em>, at least for one day? How would that change people’s perspectives on who and what fine dining is for? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What’s the point of it if it’s so exclusive?” Keval says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>His hope is that by soliciting feedback from this year’s participants, he’ll get a better sense of how restaurants across different cultures, price points and service styles experienced the Pay What You Can model — and that next year, even more restaurants, including fine dining restaurants, will be inspired to join.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In Keval’s experience, for instance, Masala y Maiz doesn’t actually lose money on the Paga Lo Que Puedas days. Some diners pay very little or dine for free, but that’s offset by wealthier patrons who willingly pay more to help subsidize those meals.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the end, isn’t that what community is all about?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What we’re trying to do, ultimately,” Keval says, “is build a global community of like-minded chefs and restaurateurs that are trying to create change.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>See the full list of Bay Area restaurants participating in this year’s Paga Lo Que Puedas initiative below:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcei0tPIJ_J/?img_index=1\">Bombera\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reemscalifornia/\">Reem’s\u003c/a> (Jack London Square location only; the Mission restaurant is \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DbYoCqbMJKr/\">temporarily closed\u003c/a>) \u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfiziopasta/\">Sfizio\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcfFMUCGicq/?img_index=1\">Tacos Oscar\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcfEEUPm8dn/?img_index=1\">Understory\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/merkadosf/\">Merkado\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/pastasupplyco/\">Pasta Supply Co.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>San José\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DbytnYWy_Ig/\">Acopio Alta Cocina \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DYx7cHCjieW/\">Valley Swim Club\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Correction:\u003c/em> \u003cem>An earlier version of this story omitted Tacos Oscar, which is also participating in the Aug. 26 Pay What You Can initiative.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Tune-Up Tuesdays Offer DIY Wheelchair Repairs in San Francisco",
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"content": "\u003cp>Everyone could tell that Kristina Moreno was uncomfortable. Her chair obviously didn’t fit her body well. And everybody wanted to help.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Did you get that through insurance?” someone asked. The answer was far more complicated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the past week, Moreno had been using a powerchair her unhoused neighbor left behind when an ambulance took him away during a health crisis. She only knew his first name, but every night, Moreno charged the man’s chair inside her apartment. She was there when he suddenly needed medical care one afternoon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Moreno supported him that day, a passerby stole her chair, so she felt she had no choice but to use her neighbor’s much smaller one. Every day since, she’s wondered when he might return and whether she can finally convince Medi-Cal to replace her stolen chair before that happens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992446\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olga Prilepova adjusts the armrest height of Kristina Moreno’s borrowed powerchair at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Discussing difficult experiences while tending to equipment repairs is at the core of \u003ca href=\"https://disabilityculturalcenter.org/event/tune-up-sept2026/\">Tune-Up Tuesdays\u003c/a>. The monthly repair event is held at San Francisco’s Disability Cultural Center, or DCC. Tune-Up Tuesdays are organized by \u003ca href=\"https://www.openassistivetech.org\">Grassroots Open Assistive Tech\u003c/a>, or GOAT, a nonprofit working on projects at the intersection of do-it-yourself repair and reuse, open source hardware and software, and disability justice. In addition to the DCC, GOAT partners with regional organizations serving similar needs, such as the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco (ILRCSF).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13978766/disability-cultural-center-open-san-francisco\">Since opening last summer\u003c/a>, the DCC has offered a staggering array of eclectic near-daily programming, both onsite and virtually, from drag shows to craft circles to discussion groups. The DCC is the nation’s first publicly funded disability center focused on disabled culture and arts, and its unremarkable entrance on Grove Street obscures its inviting indoor-outdoor space. The bright interior courtyard is filled with small trees and plants, plus movable chairs and tables with wide sun umbrellas. Like the rest of the center, the space and its features are designed to adapt to a variety of needs, such as a mobility aid repair clinic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a recent sunny Tuesday, Rena Fischer was one of the first people through the door. Fischer has been a San Francisco resident since 1993 and has used a wheelchair for six years. She needed a taller side barrier on her footrest to keep her left foot from sliding off the platform, which in the past caused severe injuries requiring hospitalization. A useful modification would likely be a small custom job, possibly 3D-printed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We like to think that we’re doing trauma-informed repair,” said GOAT founder Liz Henry. Rather than taking someone’s chair into a mysterious back room, Tune-Up Tuesdays provide space to talk through a problem and consent to working collaboratively to fix it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" data-id=\"13992443\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992443\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GOAT executive director Liz Henry (right) speaks with Rena Fischer (left) about her powerchair at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" data-id=\"13992444\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992444\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olga Prilepova measures the footrest of Rena Fischer’s powerchair to make a modification at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The same ethos powers GOAT’s physical space in downtown Oakland, which is now open weekdays 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tucked behind The Bookmark Bookstore, the GOAT space serves as a storage area and distribution center for free devices and accessories, as well as a workshop for maintenance and enhancements. Henry urged Fischer to visit the following week, to discuss her footrest modification and to volunteer. Fischer insisted she would. “I’m useful,” she emphasized.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On her way out, Fischer picked up one of GOAT’s free toolkits. The take-home kit includes tools for simple upkeep and to prevent anyone from becoming stranded if their device malfunctions or breaks. Every colorful fabric pouch contains small wrenches, a tiny bottle of machine oil for lubricating wheels and bearings, and fasteners including cable ties, strong paracord and sturdy tape. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992442\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GOAT executive director Liz Henry displays customizations to their powerchair at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Tune-Up Tuesdays are delightfully focused yet totally unpredictable. In June, about 25 attendees came through, some lining up starting at noon for the 1:30 p.m. event. August drew a smaller but no less soulful group, with participants seeking maintenance support for loose armrests and low tire pressure and asking questions about where to test mobility equipment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jen Holthaus took time off work to attend. She’s at the beginning of her wheelchair journey and didn’t know any other disabled people, so she asked Henry how to begin researching chair options. As Henry described how the West Oakland Center for Independent Living’s \u003ca href=\"https://thecil.org/wheelhouse/\">Wheelhouse\u003c/a> offers a variety of demonstration chairs, they moved onto a plush loveseat so that Holthaus could take a spin in Henry’s powerchair. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Being here is how I move from feeling stuck to having a direction,” Holthaus explained, noting she gained practical tips and also felt less alone.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Henry remembers that isolation. “I had a lot of trouble in my early twenties,” they said, noting that even though the Bay Area has a rich history of disabled advocacy, they initially connected with other disabled people on Usenet forums and got around in a wheelchair stolen by necessity from a hospital. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992448\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GOAT member Vincent Lopez finds out that the left castor wheel bearings of Kristina Moreno’s borrowed powerchair are completely gone at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>ILRCSF mobility device technician Vince Lopez arrived on a red scooter and pulled up a seat next to Moreno to talk through the features she might consider in selecting a better chair for her body: seat style, motor type and rear-, mid- or front-wheel drive. Last year, before getting a chair through Medi-Cal, Moreno was stranded in her apartment for months. She’s afraid she could get stuck again when her neighbor is discharged from the hospital and reclaims his chair. While they talked through options, several attendees helped themselves to hot tea, and a young couple arrived to get their rollators serviced.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a shady area of the courtyard nearby, GOAT’s Olga Prilepova used pliers and a wire brush to clean Fred Lopez’s suitcase wheels, which collect debris as he moves around the city on public transit. Lopez, who lives in SoMa and has low vision, travels to the San Francisco Public Library main branch most days to read in the Talking Books and Braille Center. When grimy, the wheels on his green fabric suitcase jam. Dirty wheels also squeak loudly, which he finds embarrassing. He’s become a regular at Tune-Up Tuesdays, relying on practical support while savoring the socializing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s too bad this is only once a month,” he murmured before pulling his serviced suitcase onto quiet, well-working wheels and heading across Civic Center to the library.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The next \u003ca href=\"https://disabilityculturalcenter.org/event/tune-up-sept2026/\">Tune-Up Tuesday\u003c/a> takes place at the Disability Cultural Center (165 Grove Street, San Francisco) on Sept. 1, 1:30–4:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the past week, Moreno had been using a powerchair her unhoused neighbor left behind when an ambulance took him away during a health crisis. She only knew his first name, but every night, Moreno charged the man’s chair inside her apartment. She was there when he suddenly needed medical care one afternoon. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While Moreno supported him that day, a passerby stole her chair, so she felt she had no choice but to use her neighbor’s much smaller one. Every day since, she’s wondered when he might return and whether she can finally convince Medi-Cal to replace her stolen chair before that happens.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Discussing difficult experiences while tending to equipment repairs is at the core of \u003ca href=\"https://disabilityculturalcenter.org/event/tune-up-sept2026/\">Tune-Up Tuesdays\u003c/a>. The monthly repair event is held at San Francisco’s Disability Cultural Center, or DCC. Tune-Up Tuesdays are organized by \u003ca href=\"https://www.openassistivetech.org\">Grassroots Open Assistive Tech\u003c/a>, or GOAT, a nonprofit working on projects at the intersection of do-it-yourself repair and reuse, open source hardware and software, and disability justice. In addition to the DCC, GOAT partners with regional organizations serving similar needs, such as the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco (ILRCSF).\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13978766/disability-cultural-center-open-san-francisco\">Since opening last summer\u003c/a>, the DCC has offered a staggering array of eclectic near-daily programming, both onsite and virtually, from drag shows to craft circles to discussion groups. The DCC is the nation’s first publicly funded disability center focused on disabled culture and arts, and its unremarkable entrance on Grove Street obscures its inviting indoor-outdoor space. The bright interior courtyard is filled with small trees and plants, plus movable chairs and tables with wide sun umbrellas. Like the rest of the center, the space and its features are designed to adapt to a variety of needs, such as a mobility aid repair clinic.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13978766/disability-cultural-center-open-san-francisco\">Since opening last summer\u003c/a>, the DCC has offered a staggering array of eclectic near-daily programming, both onsite and virtually, from drag shows to craft circles to discussion groups. The DCC is the nation’s first publicly funded disability center focused on disabled culture and arts, and its unremarkable entrance on Grove Street obscures its inviting indoor-outdoor space. The bright interior courtyard is filled with small trees and plants, plus movable chairs and tables with wide sun umbrellas. Like the rest of the center, the space and its features are designed to adapt to a variety of needs, such as a mobility aid repair clinic.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On a recent sunny Tuesday, Rena Fischer was one of the first people through the door. Fischer has been a San Francisco resident since 1993 and has used a wheelchair for six years. She needed a taller side barrier on her footrest to keep her left foot from sliding off the platform, which in the past caused severe injuries requiring hospitalization. A useful modification would likely be a small custom job, possibly 3D-printed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We like to think that we’re doing trauma-informed repair,” said GOAT founder Liz Henry. Rather than taking someone’s chair into a mysterious back room, Tune-Up Tuesdays provide space to talk through a problem and consent to working collaboratively to fix it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The same ethos powers GOAT’s physical space in downtown Oakland, which is now open weekdays 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tucked behind The Bookmark Bookstore, the GOAT space serves as a storage area and distribution center for free devices and accessories, as well as a workshop for maintenance and enhancements. Henry urged Fischer to visit the following week, to discuss her footrest modification and to volunteer. Fischer insisted she would. “I’m useful,” she emphasized.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992442\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GOAT executive director Liz Henry displays customizations to their powerchair at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tune-Up Tuesdays are delightfully focused yet totally unpredictable. In June, about 25 attendees came through, some lining up starting at noon for the 1:30 p.m. event. August drew a smaller but no less soulful group, with participants seeking maintenance support for loose armrests and low tire pressure and asking questions about where to test mobility equipment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jen Holthaus took time off work to attend. She’s at the beginning of her wheelchair journey and didn’t know any other disabled people, so she asked Henry how to begin researching chair options. As Henry described how the West Oakland Center for Independent Living’s \u003ca href=\"https://thecil.org/wheelhouse/\">Wheelhouse\u003c/a> offers a variety of demonstration chairs, they moved onto a plush loveseat so that Holthaus could take a spin in Henry’s powerchair. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Jen Holthaus took time off work to attend. She’s at the beginning of her wheelchair journey and didn’t know any other disabled people, so she asked Henry how to begin researching chair options. As Henry described how the West Oakland Center for Independent Living’s \u003ca href=\"https://thecil.org/wheelhouse/\">Wheelhouse\u003c/a> offers a variety of demonstration chairs, they moved onto a plush loveseat so that Holthaus could take a spin in Henry’s powerchair. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Being here is how I move from feeling stuck to having a direction,” Holthaus explained, noting she gained practical tips and also felt less alone.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Henry remembers that isolation. “I had a lot of trouble in my early twenties,” they said, noting that even though the Bay Area has a rich history of disabled advocacy, they initially connected with other disabled people on Usenet forums and got around in a wheelchair stolen by necessity from a hospital. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Henry remembers that isolation. “I had a lot of trouble in my early twenties,” they said, noting that even though the Bay Area has a rich history of disabled advocacy, they initially connected with other disabled people on Usenet forums and got around in a wheelchair stolen by necessity from a hospital. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992448\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GOAT member Vincent Lopez finds out that the left castor wheel bearings of Kristina Moreno’s borrowed powerchair are completely gone at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>ILRCSF mobility device technician Vince Lopez arrived on a red scooter and pulled up a seat next to Moreno to talk through the features she might consider in selecting a better chair for her body: seat style, motor type and rear-, mid- or front-wheel drive. Last year, before getting a chair through Medi-Cal, Moreno was stranded in her apartment for months. She’s afraid she could get stuck again when her neighbor is discharged from the hospital and reclaims his chair. While they talked through options, several attendees helped themselves to hot tea, and a young couple arrived to get their rollators serviced.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>ILRCSF mobility device technician Vince Lopez arrived on a red scooter and pulled up a seat next to Moreno to talk through the features she might consider in selecting a better chair for her body: seat style, motor type and rear-, mid- or front-wheel drive. Last year, before getting a chair through Medi-Cal, Moreno was stranded in her apartment for months. She’s afraid she could get stuck again when her neighbor is discharged from the hospital and reclaims his chair. While they talked through options, several attendees helped themselves to hot tea, and a young couple arrived to get their rollators serviced.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a shady area of the courtyard nearby, GOAT’s Olga Prilepova used pliers and a wire brush to clean Fred Lopez’s suitcase wheels, which collect debris as he moves around the city on public transit. Lopez, who lives in SoMa and has low vision, travels to the San Francisco Public Library main branch most days to read in the Talking Books and Braille Center. When grimy, the wheels on his green fabric suitcase jam. Dirty wheels also squeak loudly, which he finds embarrassing. He’s become a regular at Tune-Up Tuesdays, relying on practical support while savoring the socializing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In a shady area of the courtyard nearby, GOAT’s Olga Prilepova used pliers and a wire brush to clean Fred Lopez’s suitcase wheels, which collect debris as he moves around the city on public transit. Lopez, who lives in SoMa and has low vision, travels to the San Francisco Public Library main branch most days to read in the Talking Books and Braille Center. When grimy, the wheels on his green fabric suitcase jam. Dirty wheels also squeak loudly, which he finds embarrassing. He’s become a regular at Tune-Up Tuesdays, relying on practical support while savoring the socializing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s too bad this is only once a month,” he murmured before pulling his serviced suitcase onto quiet, well-working wheels and heading across Civic Center to the library.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The next \u003ca href=\"https://disabilityculturalcenter.org/event/tune-up-sept2026/\">Tune-Up Tuesday\u003c/a> takes place at the Disability Cultural Center (165 Grove Street, San Francisco) on Sept. 1, 1:30–4:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "People come to fix loose armrests and squeaky wheels. They often leave with a newfound sense of community.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Everyone could tell that Kristina Moreno was uncomfortable. Her chair obviously didn’t fit her body well. And everybody wanted to help.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Did you get that through insurance?” someone asked. The answer was far more complicated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the past week, Moreno had been using a powerchair her unhoused neighbor left behind when an ambulance took him away during a health crisis. She only knew his first name, but every night, Moreno charged the man’s chair inside her apartment. She was there when he suddenly needed medical care one afternoon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Moreno supported him that day, a passerby stole her chair, so she felt she had no choice but to use her neighbor’s much smaller one. Every day since, she’s wondered when he might return and whether she can finally convince Medi-Cal to replace her stolen chair before that happens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992446\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-14-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olga Prilepova adjusts the armrest height of Kristina Moreno’s borrowed powerchair at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Discussing difficult experiences while tending to equipment repairs is at the core of \u003ca href=\"https://disabilityculturalcenter.org/event/tune-up-sept2026/\">Tune-Up Tuesdays\u003c/a>. The monthly repair event is held at San Francisco’s Disability Cultural Center, or DCC. Tune-Up Tuesdays are organized by \u003ca href=\"https://www.openassistivetech.org\">Grassroots Open Assistive Tech\u003c/a>, or GOAT, a nonprofit working on projects at the intersection of do-it-yourself repair and reuse, open source hardware and software, and disability justice. In addition to the DCC, GOAT partners with regional organizations serving similar needs, such as the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco (ILRCSF).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13978766/disability-cultural-center-open-san-francisco\">Since opening last summer\u003c/a>, the DCC has offered a staggering array of eclectic near-daily programming, both onsite and virtually, from drag shows to craft circles to discussion groups. The DCC is the nation’s first publicly funded disability center focused on disabled culture and arts, and its unremarkable entrance on Grove Street obscures its inviting indoor-outdoor space. The bright interior courtyard is filled with small trees and plants, plus movable chairs and tables with wide sun umbrellas. Like the rest of the center, the space and its features are designed to adapt to a variety of needs, such as a mobility aid repair clinic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a recent sunny Tuesday, Rena Fischer was one of the first people through the door. Fischer has been a San Francisco resident since 1993 and has used a wheelchair for six years. She needed a taller side barrier on her footrest to keep her left foot from sliding off the platform, which in the past caused severe injuries requiring hospitalization. A useful modification would likely be a small custom job, possibly 3D-printed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We like to think that we’re doing trauma-informed repair,” said GOAT founder Liz Henry. Rather than taking someone’s chair into a mysterious back room, Tune-Up Tuesdays provide space to talk through a problem and consent to working collaboratively to fix it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" data-id=\"13992443\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992443\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-05-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GOAT executive director Liz Henry (right) speaks with Rena Fischer (left) about her powerchair at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" data-id=\"13992444\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992444\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-07-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olga Prilepova measures the footrest of Rena Fischer’s powerchair to make a modification at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The same ethos powers GOAT’s physical space in downtown Oakland, which is now open weekdays 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tucked behind The Bookmark Bookstore, the GOAT space serves as a storage area and distribution center for free devices and accessories, as well as a workshop for maintenance and enhancements. Henry urged Fischer to visit the following week, to discuss her footrest modification and to volunteer. Fischer insisted she would. “I’m useful,” she emphasized.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On her way out, Fischer picked up one of GOAT’s free toolkits. The take-home kit includes tools for simple upkeep and to prevent anyone from becoming stranded if their device malfunctions or breaks. Every colorful fabric pouch contains small wrenches, a tiny bottle of machine oil for lubricating wheels and bearings, and fasteners including cable ties, strong paracord and sturdy tape. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992442\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-04-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GOAT executive director Liz Henry displays customizations to their powerchair at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Tune-Up Tuesdays are delightfully focused yet totally unpredictable. In June, about 25 attendees came through, some lining up starting at noon for the 1:30 p.m. event. August drew a smaller but no less soulful group, with participants seeking maintenance support for loose armrests and low tire pressure and asking questions about where to test mobility equipment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jen Holthaus took time off work to attend. She’s at the beginning of her wheelchair journey and didn’t know any other disabled people, so she asked Henry how to begin researching chair options. As Henry described how the West Oakland Center for Independent Living’s \u003ca href=\"https://thecil.org/wheelhouse/\">Wheelhouse\u003c/a> offers a variety of demonstration chairs, they moved onto a plush loveseat so that Holthaus could take a spin in Henry’s powerchair. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Being here is how I move from feeling stuck to having a direction,” Holthaus explained, noting she gained practical tips and also felt less alone.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Henry remembers that isolation. “I had a lot of trouble in my early twenties,” they said, noting that even though the Bay Area has a rich history of disabled advocacy, they initially connected with other disabled people on Usenet forums and got around in a wheelchair stolen by necessity from a hospital. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13992448\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/080426-TUNEUPTUESDAY-26-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GOAT member Vincent Lopez finds out that the left castor wheel bearings of Kristina Moreno’s borrowed powerchair are completely gone at the Grassroots Open Assistive Tech Tune Up Tuesday event at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center on August 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>ILRCSF mobility device technician Vince Lopez arrived on a red scooter and pulled up a seat next to Moreno to talk through the features she might consider in selecting a better chair for her body: seat style, motor type and rear-, mid- or front-wheel drive. Last year, before getting a chair through Medi-Cal, Moreno was stranded in her apartment for months. She’s afraid she could get stuck again when her neighbor is discharged from the hospital and reclaims his chair. While they talked through options, several attendees helped themselves to hot tea, and a young couple arrived to get their rollators serviced.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a shady area of the courtyard nearby, GOAT’s Olga Prilepova used pliers and a wire brush to clean Fred Lopez’s suitcase wheels, which collect debris as he moves around the city on public transit. Lopez, who lives in SoMa and has low vision, travels to the San Francisco Public Library main branch most days to read in the Talking Books and Braille Center. When grimy, the wheels on his green fabric suitcase jam. Dirty wheels also squeak loudly, which he finds embarrassing. He’s become a regular at Tune-Up Tuesdays, relying on practical support while savoring the socializing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s too bad this is only once a month,” he murmured before pulling his serviced suitcase onto quiet, well-working wheels and heading across Civic Center to the library.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The next \u003ca href=\"https://disabilityculturalcenter.org/event/tune-up-sept2026/\">Tune-Up Tuesday\u003c/a> takes place at the Disability Cultural Center (165 Grove Street, San Francisco) on Sept. 1, 1:30–4:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "bay-area-fall-2026-best-concerts-san-francisco-oakland-san-jose",
"title": "10 Concerts Not to Miss in the Bay Area This Fall",
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"headTitle": "10 Concerts Not to Miss in the Bay Area This Fall | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">2\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">\u003cem>026 Fall Arts Guide\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Abundance is the word that comes to mind when looking at the Bay Area’s concert offerings this fall. Local legends are celebrating major milestones; several grassroots music festivals are spotlighting independent artists; and Bay Area musicians are mingling with boundary-pushing acts from across the globe. Below you’ll find 10 shows you shouldn’t miss. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13934882\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hieroglyphics on stage at Hiero Day in Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, Sept. 4, 2023. (Eric Arnold/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/hiero-day-189661\">Hiero Day \u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 7, 2 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>The Midway, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What started as a grassroots block party in Oakland over a decade ago has evolved into one of the Bay Area’s staple celebrations of hip-hop culture. For the second year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hiero-day\">Hiero Day\u003c/a> returns to San Francisco’s Midway for a day party with headliners Killer Mike, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mereba and, of course, its namesake hip-hop collective, Oakland’s own Hieroglyphics. Joining them on the bill is San Francisco rapper \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985660/frak-four-square-mixtape\">Frak\u003c/a>, who recently blew minds with his interactive, videogame-themed concert, Foursquare at The Independent. Multilingual MC \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/ruby-ibarra\">Ruby Ibarra\u003c/a>, who won 2025’s Tiny Desk Contest, will take the stage with her band the Balikbayans, alongside Young Bari, Boss Life Big Spence, Chuy Gomez and a formidable lineup of rappers, singers and DJs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1082\" height=\"724\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C.jpg\" alt=\"Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Friday August 12, 2022.\" class=\"wp-image-13917667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C.jpg 1082w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-800x535.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-1020x683.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-768x514.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1082px) 100vw, 1082px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Aug. 12, 2022. (Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://crybaby.live/tm-attraction/lil-kayla/\">Lil Kayla\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 11, 9 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Crybaby, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ever since she burst onto the scene with her scammer anthem, “Make His Pockets Hurt,” in 2019, Lil Kayla has established herself as one of the hardest rappers in the San Francisco scene. Full of witty bars and lyrical mischief, tracks like “Throw Dat Shit” and “11:11” are what you crank up when you want to feel like you’re on your worst behavior. Lil Kayla’s legions of young, female fans are bound to be screaming in the front at her show at the intimate Oakland club Crybaby. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13962540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kaytranada performs at Outside Lands on Aug. 11, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sleeping-on-gems-fest-w-kaytranada-more-discovery-meadow-san-jose-tickets-1993569655505\">Sleeping on Gems Fest with Kaytranada\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 13, 2–9 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Discovery Meadow, San José\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whether it’s his timeless remix of Teedra Moses’ “Just Wanna Be Your Girl” or his 3 a.m. dance floor heater “Drip Sweat” with Chanel Tres, Kaytranada’s signature blend of house music with rap and R&B has drawn a massive global fanbase. At Discovery Meadow in San José, the Montreal producer will spin alongside standout house vocalist Rochelle Jordan, L.A. rap duo Partyof2, Amsterdam electronic producer Jael, the Bay’s own Ruby Ibarra, and more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"798\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis.png\" alt=\"group of musicians pose on a street\" class=\"wp-image-13982833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis.png 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis-160x106.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis-768x511.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Spiritual Cramp. (Sarah Davis)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://bottomofthehill.com/20260919.html\">Spiritual Cramp\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since they formed in San Francisco in 2017, punk rockers Spiritual Cramp have spread out all over the country, but the City remains their muse. In their video for the charmingly self-deprecating banger, “At My Funeral,” singer Mike Bingham frolics through Green Apple Books, Kilowatt and Oracle Park, paying homage to the places that shaped him. Spiritual Cramp will pack out the legendary rock club Bottom of the Hill for a homecoming show this fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg\" alt=\"a Black man with a guitar, gold outfit and hat sings into a microphone onstage while holding a guitar\" class=\"wp-image-13970421\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fantastic Negrito performing at the Annual Americana Honors Awards in September 2024 in Nashville. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2026-27/Fantastic-Negrito\">Fantastic Negrito and San Francisco Symphony\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fantastic-negrito\">Fantastic Negrito\u003c/a> might be a three-time Grammy winner, but he remains deeply rooted in his hometown of Oakland, tending to his urban farm and writing and recording in his West Oakland studio. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of his landmark album \u003cem>The Last Days of Oakland\u003c/em>, a fiery, blues-rock meditation on the working-class struggle in a rapidly gentrifying city. At Davies Symphony Hall, he’ll perform reimagined versions of tracks from his discography, backed by a full orchestra. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13903425\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Erykah Badu performs at Lights On Festival at Concord Pavilion on Sept. 18, 2021. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://thegreekberkeley.com/events/erykah-badu-260927\">Erykah Badu\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 27, 7 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Greek Theatre, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Few artists’ influence on music, fashion and culture is as deeply felt as Erykah Badu’s. Almost two decades since her genre-defining neo-soul debut, \u003cem>Baduizm\u003c/em>, the singer’s career remains a blueprint for creative excellence and free-spirited self-expression. This month, she’ll release her highly anticipated collaborative album with producer The Alchemist, who’ll join her on her North American tour along with St. Louis rapper Smino. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg\" alt=\"A blonde, white singer strikes a pose in front of a diverse crew of female dancers. \" class=\"wp-image-13992906\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zara Larsson performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Joshua Applegate/WireImage)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://portolamusicfestival.com/\">Portola Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 26–27 \u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Pier 80, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electronic music giants, cult-favorite DJs and left-field pop acts unite for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/portola-festival\">Portola\u003c/a>, a festival whose eclectic lineup just makes sense for San Francisco. 2026 seems to be somewhat of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990263/portola-festival-lineup-2026-robyn-zara-larsson-four-tet\">Swedish takeover\u003c/a>, with EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia and pop stars Robyn and Zara Larsson. Also among the headliners are Skrillex and Boys Noize’s duo Dog Blood, Four Tet and Tiësto. Legendary San José turntablist DJ Shadow will celebrate 30 years of his album \u003cem>Endtroducing….. \u003c/em>Other highlights from the bill include City Girls rapper JT, Argentinian perreo-rave singer Six Sex, San Francisco hyperpop artist Underscores, trip-hop legend Tricky and more.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1638\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"a woman with white hair and sunglasses smiles as she plays guitar on an outdoor stage\" class=\"wp-image-13917394\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-800x512.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1020x652.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-768x491.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1536x983.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-2048x1310.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1920x1228.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hardly Strictly Bluegrass veteran Emmylou Harris will return to this year’s free musical festival. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/2026-lineup-announcements/\">Hardly Strictly Bluegrass\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 2–4\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Golden Gate Park, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s second summer typically lasts well into October, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hardly-strictly-bluegrass\">Hardly Strictly\u003c/a> is a capstone event of the season. The free, family-friendly music festival takes over Golden Gate Park with performances by singer, fiddler and music producer Alison Krauss and her band Union Station, Yemeni band El Khat (who make their own instruments), country-rock legend Emmylou Harris and rockers My Morning Jacket.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764.jpg\" alt=\"A Black hip-hop artist raps into a microphone, flanked by backup singers and musicians. \" class=\"wp-image-13992907\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cameron McCloud (center) of Cure for Paranoia performs in concert during NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour at Emo’s Austin on June 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.theindependentsf.com/tm-event/cure-for-paranoia/\">Cure for Paranoia\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 6, 8 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>The Independent, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With irresistible charisma, an off-kilter flow and bold lyrics about Black, queer life in Texas, Cure for Paranoia is blowing up after winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year. The alternative hip-hop collective will bring their dynamic live show, backed by a full band, to San Francisco’s Independent. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072.jpg\" alt=\"A Mexican DJ smiles as he looks up from behind the decks. \" class=\"wp-image-13992908\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mexican Institute of Sound spins at Family Time: Arrullos Mexicanos at The GRAMMY Museum on July 29, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://fest.psychedradiosf.com/psychedfest-sf-2026/\">Psyched! Fest\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 11–Nov. 6\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Various venues, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>D.I.Y. online radio station \u003ca href=\"https://www.psychedradiosf.com/\">Psyched! Radio\u003c/a> is one of San Francisco’s homes for the underground music scene, and its festival takes over independent venues including Rickshaw Stop, Great American Music Hall and Neck of the Woods for a month of shows this fall. The expansive lineup features several notable acts from Mexico — including Mexican Institute of Sound, Diles Que No Me Maten and Amantes del Futuro — sharing stages with Bay Area and stateside artists.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">2\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">\u003cem>026 Fall Arts Guide\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">2\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">\u003cem>026 Fall Arts Guide\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Abundance is the word that comes to mind when looking at the Bay Area’s concert offerings this fall. Local legends are celebrating major milestones; several grassroots music festivals are spotlighting independent artists; and Bay Area musicians are mingling with boundary-pushing acts from across the globe. Below you’ll find 10 shows you shouldn’t miss. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Abundance is the word that comes to mind when looking at the Bay Area’s concert offerings this fall. Local legends are celebrating major milestones; several grassroots music festivals are spotlighting independent artists; and Bay Area musicians are mingling with boundary-pushing acts from across the globe. Below you’ll find 10 shows you shouldn’t miss. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13934882\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hieroglyphics on stage at Hiero Day in Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, Sept. 4, 2023.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/hiero-day-189661\">Hiero Day \u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 7, 2 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>The Midway, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 7, 2 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>The Midway, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What started as a grassroots block party in Oakland over a decade ago has evolved into one of the Bay Area’s staple celebrations of hip-hop culture. For the second year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hiero-day\">Hiero Day\u003c/a> returns to San Francisco’s Midway for a day party with headliners Killer Mike, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mereba and, of course, its namesake hip-hop collective, Oakland’s own Hieroglyphics. Joining them on the bill is San Francisco rapper \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985660/frak-four-square-mixtape\">Frak\u003c/a>, who recently blew minds with his interactive, videogame-themed concert, Foursquare at The Independent. Multilingual MC \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/ruby-ibarra\">Ruby Ibarra\u003c/a>, who won 2025’s Tiny Desk Contest, will take the stage with her band the Balikbayans, alongside Young Bari, Boss Life Big Spence, Chuy Gomez and a formidable lineup of rappers, singers and DJs.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>What started as a grassroots block party in Oakland over a decade ago has evolved into one of the Bay Area’s staple celebrations of hip-hop culture. For the second year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hiero-day\">Hiero Day\u003c/a> returns to San Francisco’s Midway for a day party with headliners Killer Mike, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mereba and, of course, its namesake hip-hop collective, Oakland’s own Hieroglyphics. Joining them on the bill is San Francisco rapper \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985660/frak-four-square-mixtape\">Frak\u003c/a>, who recently blew minds with his interactive, videogame-themed concert, Foursquare at The Independent. Multilingual MC \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/ruby-ibarra\">Ruby Ibarra\u003c/a>, who won 2025’s Tiny Desk Contest, will take the stage with her band the Balikbayans, alongside Young Bari, Boss Life Big Spence, Chuy Gomez and a formidable lineup of rappers, singers and DJs.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C.jpg\" alt=\"Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Friday August 12, 2022.\" class=\"wp-image-13917667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C.jpg 1082w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-800x535.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-1020x683.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-768x514.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Aug. 12, 2022.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://crybaby.live/tm-attraction/lil-kayla/\">Lil Kayla\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 11, 9 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Crybaby, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 11, 9 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Crybaby, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ever since she burst onto the scene with her scammer anthem, “Make His Pockets Hurt,” in 2019, Lil Kayla has established herself as one of the hardest rappers in the San Francisco scene. Full of witty bars and lyrical mischief, tracks like “Throw Dat Shit” and “11:11” are what you crank up when you want to feel like you’re on your worst behavior. Lil Kayla’s legions of young, female fans are bound to be screaming in the front at her show at the intimate Oakland club Crybaby. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ever since she burst onto the scene with her scammer anthem, “Make His Pockets Hurt,” in 2019, Lil Kayla has established herself as one of the hardest rappers in the San Francisco scene. Full of witty bars and lyrical mischief, tracks like “Throw Dat Shit” and “11:11” are what you crank up when you want to feel like you’re on your worst behavior. Lil Kayla’s legions of young, female fans are bound to be screaming in the front at her show at the intimate Oakland club Crybaby. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13962540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kaytranada performs at Outside Lands on Aug. 11, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13962540\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kaytranada performs at Outside Lands on Aug. 11, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Sleeping on Gems Fest with Kaytranada",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sleeping-on-gems-fest-w-kaytranada-more-discovery-meadow-san-jose-tickets-1993569655505\">Sleeping on Gems Fest with Kaytranada\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 13, 2–9 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Discovery Meadow, San José\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Whether it’s his timeless remix of Teedra Moses’ “Just Wanna Be Your Girl” or his 3 a.m. dance floor heater “Drip Sweat” with Chanel Tres, Kaytranada’s signature blend of house music with rap and R&B has drawn a massive global fanbase. At Discovery Meadow in San José, the Montreal producer will spin alongside standout house vocalist Rochelle Jordan, L.A. rap duo Partyof2, Amsterdam electronic producer Jael, the Bay’s own Ruby Ibarra, and more. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Whether it’s his timeless remix of Teedra Moses’ “Just Wanna Be Your Girl” or his 3 a.m. dance floor heater “Drip Sweat” with Chanel Tres, Kaytranada’s signature blend of house music with rap and R&B has drawn a massive global fanbase. At Discovery Meadow in San José, the Montreal producer will spin alongside standout house vocalist Rochelle Jordan, L.A. rap duo Partyof2, Amsterdam electronic producer Jael, the Bay’s own Ruby Ibarra, and more. \u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis.png\" alt=\"group of musicians pose on a street\" class=\"wp-image-13982833\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Spiritual Cramp.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Spiritual Cramp",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://bottomofthehill.com/20260919.html\">Spiritual Cramp\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://bottomofthehill.com/20260919.html\">Spiritual Cramp\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Since they formed in San Francisco in 2017, punk rockers Spiritual Cramp have spread out all over the country, but the City remains their muse. In their video for the charmingly self-deprecating banger, “At My Funeral,” singer Mike Bingham frolics through Green Apple Books, Kilowatt and Oracle Park, paying homage to the places that shaped him. Spiritual Cramp will pack out the legendary rock club Bottom of the Hill for a homecoming show this fall. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Since they formed in San Francisco in 2017, punk rockers Spiritual Cramp have spread out all over the country, but the City remains their muse. In their video for the charmingly self-deprecating banger, “At My Funeral,” singer Mike Bingham frolics through Green Apple Books, Kilowatt and Oracle Park, paying homage to the places that shaped him. Spiritual Cramp will pack out the legendary rock club Bottom of the Hill for a homecoming show this fall. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-768x512.jpg 768w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg\" alt=\"a Black man with a guitar, gold outfit and hat sings into a microphone onstage while holding a guitar\" class=\"wp-image-13970421\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fantastic Negrito performing at the Annual Americana Honors Awards in September 2024 in Nashville.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg\" alt=\"a Black man with a guitar, gold outfit and hat sings into a microphone onstage while holding a guitar\" class=\"wp-image-13970421\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fantastic Negrito performing at the Annual Americana Honors Awards in September 2024 in Nashville.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Fantastic Negrito and San Francisco Symphony",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2026-27/Fantastic-Negrito\">Fantastic Negrito and San Francisco Symphony\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2026-27/Fantastic-Negrito\">Fantastic Negrito and San Francisco Symphony\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fantastic-negrito\">Fantastic Negrito\u003c/a> might be a three-time Grammy winner, but he remains deeply rooted in his hometown of Oakland, tending to his urban farm and writing and recording in his West Oakland studio. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of his landmark album \u003cem>The Last Days of Oakland\u003c/em>, a fiery, blues-rock meditation on the working-class struggle in a rapidly gentrifying city. At Davies Symphony Hall, he’ll perform reimagined versions of tracks from his discography, backed by a full orchestra. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fantastic-negrito\">Fantastic Negrito\u003c/a> might be a three-time Grammy winner, but he remains deeply rooted in his hometown of Oakland, tending to his urban farm and writing and recording in his West Oakland studio. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of his landmark album \u003cem>The Last Days of Oakland\u003c/em>, a fiery, blues-rock meditation on the working-class struggle in a rapidly gentrifying city. At Davies Symphony Hall, he’ll perform reimagined versions of tracks from his discography, backed by a full orchestra. \u003c/p>\n"
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"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13903425\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Erykah Badu performs at Lights On Festival at Concord Pavilion on Sept. 18, 2021.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13903425\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Erykah Badu performs at Lights On Festival at Concord Pavilion on Sept. 18, 2021.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Erykah Badu",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://thegreekberkeley.com/events/erykah-badu-260927\">Erykah Badu\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://thegreekberkeley.com/events/erykah-badu-260927\">Erykah Badu\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 27, 7 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Greek Theatre, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 27, 7 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Greek Theatre, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Few artists’ influence on music, fashion and culture is as deeply felt as Erykah Badu’s. Almost two decades since her genre-defining neo-soul debut, \u003cem>Baduizm\u003c/em>, the singer’s career remains a blueprint for creative excellence and free-spirited self-expression. This month, she’ll release her highly anticipated collaborative album with producer The Alchemist, who’ll join her on her North American tour along with St. Louis rapper Smino. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Few artists’ influence on music, fashion and culture is as deeply felt as Erykah Badu’s. Almost two decades since her genre-defining neo-soul debut, \u003cem>Baduizm\u003c/em>, the singer’s career remains a blueprint for creative excellence and free-spirited self-expression. This month, she’ll release her highly anticipated collaborative album with producer The Alchemist, who’ll join her on her North American tour along with St. Louis rapper Smino. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg\" alt=\"A blonde, white singer strikes a pose in front of a diverse crew of female dancers. \" class=\"wp-image-13992906\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zara Larsson performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg\" alt=\"A blonde, white singer strikes a pose in front of a diverse crew of female dancers. \" class=\"wp-image-13992906\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zara Larsson performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Portola Festival",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://portolamusicfestival.com/\">Portola Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 26–27 \u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Pier 80, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 26–27 \u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Pier 80, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Electronic music giants, cult-favorite DJs and left-field pop acts unite for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/portola-festival\">Portola\u003c/a>, a festival whose eclectic lineup just makes sense for San Francisco. 2026 seems to be somewhat of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990263/portola-festival-lineup-2026-robyn-zara-larsson-four-tet\">Swedish takeover\u003c/a>, with EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia and pop stars Robyn and Zara Larsson. Also among the headliners are Skrillex and Boys Noize’s duo Dog Blood, Four Tet and Tiësto. Legendary San José turntablist DJ Shadow will celebrate 30 years of his album \u003cem>Endtroducing….. \u003c/em>Other highlights from the bill include City Girls rapper JT, Argentinian perreo-rave singer Six Sex, San Francisco hyperpop artist Underscores, trip-hop legend Tricky and more.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Electronic music giants, cult-favorite DJs and left-field pop acts unite for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/portola-festival\">Portola\u003c/a>, a festival whose eclectic lineup just makes sense for San Francisco. 2026 seems to be somewhat of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990263/portola-festival-lineup-2026-robyn-zara-larsson-four-tet\">Swedish takeover\u003c/a>, with EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia and pop stars Robyn and Zara Larsson. Also among the headliners are Skrillex and Boys Noize’s duo Dog Blood, Four Tet and Tiësto. Legendary San José turntablist DJ Shadow will celebrate 30 years of his album \u003cem>Endtroducing….. \u003c/em>Other highlights from the bill include City Girls rapper JT, Argentinian perreo-rave singer Six Sex, San Francisco hyperpop artist Underscores, trip-hop legend Tricky and more.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"a woman with white hair and sunglasses smiles as she plays guitar on an outdoor stage\" class=\"wp-image-13917394\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-800x512.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1020x652.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-768x491.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1536x983.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-2048x1310.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1920x1228.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hardly Strictly Bluegrass veteran Emmylou Harris will return to this year’s free musical festival.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"a woman with white hair and sunglasses smiles as she plays guitar on an outdoor stage\" class=\"wp-image-13917394\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hardly Strictly Bluegrass veteran Emmylou Harris will return to this year’s free musical festival.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/2026-lineup-announcements/\">Hardly Strictly Bluegrass\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 2–4\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Golden Gate Park, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s second summer typically lasts well into October, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hardly-strictly-bluegrass\">Hardly Strictly\u003c/a> is a capstone event of the season. The free, family-friendly music festival takes over Golden Gate Park with performances by singer, fiddler and music producer Alison Krauss and her band Union Station, Yemeni band El Khat (who make their own instruments), country-rock legend Emmylou Harris and rockers My Morning Jacket.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s second summer typically lasts well into October, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hardly-strictly-bluegrass\">Hardly Strictly\u003c/a> is a capstone event of the season. The free, family-friendly music festival takes over Golden Gate Park with performances by singer, fiddler and music producer Alison Krauss and her band Union Station, Yemeni band El Khat (who make their own instruments), country-rock legend Emmylou Harris and rockers My Morning Jacket.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764.jpg\" alt=\"A Black hip-hop artist raps into a microphone, flanked by backup singers and musicians. \" class=\"wp-image-13992907\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cameron McCloud (center) of Cure for Paranoia performs in concert during NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour at Emo’s Austin on June 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"attrs": {
"text": "Cure for Paranoia",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.theindependentsf.com/tm-event/cure-for-paranoia/\">Cure for Paranoia\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.theindependentsf.com/tm-event/cure-for-paranoia/\">Cure for Paranoia\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 6, 8 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>The Independent, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 6, 8 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>The Independent, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With irresistible charisma, an off-kilter flow and bold lyrics about Black, queer life in Texas, Cure for Paranoia is blowing up after winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year. The alternative hip-hop collective will bring their dynamic live show, backed by a full band, to San Francisco’s Independent. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>With irresistible charisma, an off-kilter flow and bold lyrics about Black, queer life in Texas, Cure for Paranoia is blowing up after winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year. The alternative hip-hop collective will bring their dynamic live show, backed by a full band, to San Francisco’s Independent. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 11–Nov. 6\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Various venues, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>D.I.Y. online radio station \u003ca href=\"https://www.psychedradiosf.com/\">Psyched! Radio\u003c/a> is one of San Francisco’s homes for the underground music scene, and its festival takes over independent venues including Rickshaw Stop, Great American Music Hall and Neck of the Woods for a month of shows this fall. The expansive lineup features several notable acts from Mexico — including Mexican Institute of Sound, Diles Que No Me Maten and Amantes del Futuro — sharing stages with Bay Area and stateside artists.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>D.I.Y. online radio station \u003ca href=\"https://www.psychedradiosf.com/\">Psyched! Radio\u003c/a> is one of San Francisco’s homes for the underground music scene, and its festival takes over independent venues including Rickshaw Stop, Great American Music Hall and Neck of the Woods for a month of shows this fall. The expansive lineup features several notable acts from Mexico — including Mexican Institute of Sound, Diles Que No Me Maten and Amantes del Futuro — sharing stages with Bay Area and stateside artists.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Hiero Day with Mereba and Sleeping on Gems with Kaytranada are among our selection of must-see shows.",
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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/fall-guide-2026\">2\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026\">\u003cem>026 Fall Arts Guide\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Abundance is the word that comes to mind when looking at the Bay Area’s concert offerings this fall. Local legends are celebrating major milestones; several grassroots music festivals are spotlighting independent artists; and Bay Area musicians are mingling with boundary-pushing acts from across the globe. Below you’ll find 10 shows you shouldn’t miss. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13934882\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hieroglyphics on stage at Hiero Day in Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, Sept. 4, 2023. (Eric Arnold/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/hiero-day-189661\">Hiero Day \u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 7, 2 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>The Midway, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What started as a grassroots block party in Oakland over a decade ago has evolved into one of the Bay Area’s staple celebrations of hip-hop culture. For the second year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hiero-day\">Hiero Day\u003c/a> returns to San Francisco’s Midway for a day party with headliners Killer Mike, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mereba and, of course, its namesake hip-hop collective, Oakland’s own Hieroglyphics. Joining them on the bill is San Francisco rapper \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985660/frak-four-square-mixtape\">Frak\u003c/a>, who recently blew minds with his interactive, videogame-themed concert, Foursquare at The Independent. Multilingual MC \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/ruby-ibarra\">Ruby Ibarra\u003c/a>, who won 2025’s Tiny Desk Contest, will take the stage with her band the Balikbayans, alongside Young Bari, Boss Life Big Spence, Chuy Gomez and a formidable lineup of rappers, singers and DJs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1082\" height=\"724\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C.jpg\" alt=\"Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Friday August 12, 2022.\" class=\"wp-image-13917667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C.jpg 1082w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-800x535.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-1020x683.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C-768x514.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1082px) 100vw, 1082px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Aug. 12, 2022. (Pendarvis Harshaw)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://crybaby.live/tm-attraction/lil-kayla/\">Lil Kayla\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 11, 9 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Crybaby, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ever since she burst onto the scene with her scammer anthem, “Make His Pockets Hurt,” in 2019, Lil Kayla has established herself as one of the hardest rappers in the San Francisco scene. Full of witty bars and lyrical mischief, tracks like “Throw Dat Shit” and “11:11” are what you crank up when you want to feel like you’re on your worst behavior. Lil Kayla’s legions of young, female fans are bound to be screaming in the front at her show at the intimate Oakland club Crybaby. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13962540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kaytranada performs at Outside Lands on Aug. 11, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sleeping-on-gems-fest-w-kaytranada-more-discovery-meadow-san-jose-tickets-1993569655505\">Sleeping on Gems Fest with Kaytranada\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 13, 2–9 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Discovery Meadow, San José\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whether it’s his timeless remix of Teedra Moses’ “Just Wanna Be Your Girl” or his 3 a.m. dance floor heater “Drip Sweat” with Chanel Tres, Kaytranada’s signature blend of house music with rap and R&B has drawn a massive global fanbase. At Discovery Meadow in San José, the Montreal producer will spin alongside standout house vocalist Rochelle Jordan, L.A. rap duo Partyof2, Amsterdam electronic producer Jael, the Bay’s own Ruby Ibarra, and more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"798\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis.png\" alt=\"group of musicians pose on a street\" class=\"wp-image-13982833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis.png 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis-160x106.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis-768x511.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Spiritual Cramp. (Sarah Davis)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://bottomofthehill.com/20260919.html\">Spiritual Cramp\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since they formed in San Francisco in 2017, punk rockers Spiritual Cramp have spread out all over the country, but the City remains their muse. In their video for the charmingly self-deprecating banger, “At My Funeral,” singer Mike Bingham frolics through Green Apple Books, Kilowatt and Oracle Park, paying homage to the places that shaped him. Spiritual Cramp will pack out the legendary rock club Bottom of the Hill for a homecoming show this fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg\" alt=\"a Black man with a guitar, gold outfit and hat sings into a microphone onstage while holding a guitar\" class=\"wp-image-13970421\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fantastic Negrito performing at the Annual Americana Honors Awards in September 2024 in Nashville. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2026-27/Fantastic-Negrito\">Fantastic Negrito and San Francisco Symphony\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fantastic-negrito\">Fantastic Negrito\u003c/a> might be a three-time Grammy winner, but he remains deeply rooted in his hometown of Oakland, tending to his urban farm and writing and recording in his West Oakland studio. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of his landmark album \u003cem>The Last Days of Oakland\u003c/em>, a fiery, blues-rock meditation on the working-class struggle in a rapidly gentrifying city. At Davies Symphony Hall, he’ll perform reimagined versions of tracks from his discography, backed by a full orchestra. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13903425\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Erykah Badu performs at Lights On Festival at Concord Pavilion on Sept. 18, 2021. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://thegreekberkeley.com/events/erykah-badu-260927\">Erykah Badu\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 27, 7 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Greek Theatre, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Few artists’ influence on music, fashion and culture is as deeply felt as Erykah Badu’s. Almost two decades since her genre-defining neo-soul debut, \u003cem>Baduizm\u003c/em>, the singer’s career remains a blueprint for creative excellence and free-spirited self-expression. This month, she’ll release her highly anticipated collaborative album with producer The Alchemist, who’ll join her on her North American tour along with St. Louis rapper Smino. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg\" alt=\"A blonde, white singer strikes a pose in front of a diverse crew of female dancers. \" class=\"wp-image-13992906\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zara Larsson performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Joshua Applegate/WireImage)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://portolamusicfestival.com/\">Portola Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sept. 26–27 \u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Pier 80, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electronic music giants, cult-favorite DJs and left-field pop acts unite for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/portola-festival\">Portola\u003c/a>, a festival whose eclectic lineup just makes sense for San Francisco. 2026 seems to be somewhat of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990263/portola-festival-lineup-2026-robyn-zara-larsson-four-tet\">Swedish takeover\u003c/a>, with EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia and pop stars Robyn and Zara Larsson. Also among the headliners are Skrillex and Boys Noize’s duo Dog Blood, Four Tet and Tiësto. Legendary San José turntablist DJ Shadow will celebrate 30 years of his album \u003cem>Endtroducing….. \u003c/em>Other highlights from the bill include City Girls rapper JT, Argentinian perreo-rave singer Six Sex, San Francisco hyperpop artist Underscores, trip-hop legend Tricky and more.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1638\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"a woman with white hair and sunglasses smiles as she plays guitar on an outdoor stage\" class=\"wp-image-13917394\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-800x512.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1020x652.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-768x491.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1536x983.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-2048x1310.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-1920x1228.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hardly Strictly Bluegrass veteran Emmylou Harris will return to this year’s free musical festival. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/2026-lineup-announcements/\">Hardly Strictly Bluegrass\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 2–4\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Golden Gate Park, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s second summer typically lasts well into October, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hardly-strictly-bluegrass\">Hardly Strictly\u003c/a> is a capstone event of the season. The free, family-friendly music festival takes over Golden Gate Park with performances by singer, fiddler and music producer Alison Krauss and her band Union Station, Yemeni band El Khat (who make their own instruments), country-rock legend Emmylou Harris and rockers My Morning Jacket.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764.jpg\" alt=\"A Black hip-hop artist raps into a microphone, flanked by backup singers and musicians. \" class=\"wp-image-13992907\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cameron McCloud (center) of Cure for Paranoia performs in concert during NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour at Emo’s Austin on June 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.theindependentsf.com/tm-event/cure-for-paranoia/\">Cure for Paranoia\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 6, 8 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>The Independent, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With irresistible charisma, an off-kilter flow and bold lyrics about Black, queer life in Texas, Cure for Paranoia is blowing up after winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year. The alternative hip-hop collective will bring their dynamic live show, backed by a full band, to San Francisco’s Independent. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072.jpg\" alt=\"A Mexican DJ smiles as he looks up from behind the decks. \" class=\"wp-image-13992908\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mexican Institute of Sound spins at Family Time: Arrullos Mexicanos at The GRAMMY Museum on July 29, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://fest.psychedradiosf.com/psychedfest-sf-2026/\">Psyched! Fest\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Oct. 11–Nov. 6\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Various venues, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>D.I.Y. online radio station \u003ca href=\"https://www.psychedradiosf.com/\">Psyched! Radio\u003c/a> is one of San Francisco’s homes for the underground music scene, and its festival takes over independent venues including Rickshaw Stop, Great American Music Hall and Neck of the Woods for a month of shows this fall. The expansive lineup features several notable acts from Mexico — including Mexican Institute of Sound, Diles Que No Me Maten and Amantes del Futuro — sharing stages with Bay Area and stateside artists.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "bape-block-party-san-francisco-union-square",
"title": "A BAPE Block Party and the Changing Face of San Francisco’s Union Square",
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"headTitle": "A BAPE Block Party and the Changing Face of San Francisco’s Union Square | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>At the turn of the millennium, BAPE had the hip-hop world in a veritable headlock. Now, the Japanese streetwear brand has \u003ca href=\"https://us.bape.com/pages/bape-in-the-bay\">a San Francisco storefront\u003c/a>. Their Union Square location soft-launched over the summer, and this Saturday, Aug. 22, its celebrates its official grand opening with a block party.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The brick-and-mortar shop will open at 10 a.m. — earlier than usual — while the block party, just around the corner, will run from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. The free, all-ages event features a live performance from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/p-lo\">Pinole rapper-producer P-Lo\u003c/a>, as well as DJ sets from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cydneychristine/?hl=en\">Lil CC\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/shabazzo/?hl=en\">Shabazz\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13956839/dj-d-sharp\">DJ D Sharp\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ll also be restocking all of our sold-out SF BAPE merch,” adds the store’s assistant manager, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/antbankx/\">Ant Bankx\u003c/a>, referring to the special San Francisco-branded apparel that flew off shelves as soon as the store opened. “We’ve had a line every day, out the store,” Bankx attests. “Even for BAPE, that’s not normal.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993110\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Designer Ant Bankx says San Francisco fashion is thriving, but too often overlooked. (Pendarvis Harshaw/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The company, founded in 1993 by fashion designer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nigo/?hl=en\">Nigo\u003c/a>, has long been a standard of urban wear. By opening a store in Union Square, Bankx says, San Francisco’s fashion scene is getting the recognition it deserves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve always been here,” says Bankx, “and we’ve always had a voice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raised in Richmond, Bankx has styled some of the Bay’s top entertainers, including Rexx Life Raj and Ovrkast. Co-producer of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cafe_gumbo/\">Cafe Gumbo\u003c/a> streetwear pop-up series, Bankx has also worked with local and nationally recognized brands and retailers, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandish.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19573623042&gbraid=0AAAAADtk0K2CZWJkeivHVJmKH6XT5LS14&gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtChymH-kRB7MBeeQiFfx6aEmwajIVNvkdcXbMMGqjzCnDPwF94ZQmzBoCKY4QAvD_BwE\">Oaklandish\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://instagram.com/thestashed/?hl=en\">STASHED SF\u003c/a> and the high-end consignment shop \u003ca href=\"https://shoprelove.com/\">ReLove\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Steeped in Bay Area culture and the world of fashion, Bankx knows all about what’s impeding the region from being credited as a hub for stylish apparel and fly garments.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People want fashion to look like how fashion looks everywhere,” he says — but the Bay Area has always developed a style of its own. “It’s not on anyone else’s terms. We’re not imitating New York or Los Angeles, we’re out here doing our own thing. Setting our own vibe.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993099\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Union Square in downtown San Francisco, pictured on January 22, 2026. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Along with the notion that people aren’t \u003cem>getting fits off\u003c/em> in the Bay, there’s also a reputation that Union Square is trying to shed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The 2024 attempted robbery and shooting of \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47150842/ricky-pearsall-recounts-shooting-want-live-happy-life\">49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall\u003c/a> in the area, plus a series of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11897148/rash-of-organized-weekend-robberies-target-luxury-stores-across-the-bay-area\">smash-and-grab robberies\u003c/a> at luxury retail stores in 2021, plagued the “brand” of Union Square. While reports of these incidents were accurate, Bankx says the tone online quickly became sensationalized. “Everybody focuses on the negative,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-builds-on-downtown-public-safety-progress-with-safety-improvements-ahead-of-busy-holiday-shopping-season\">San Francisco reported\u003c/a> a 40% drop in crime in the area. That came on the heels of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961449/california-targets-smash-and-grabs-with-267-million-program-aimed-at-brazen-store-thefts\">$267 million dollar\u003c/a> California Highway Patrol program announced in 2023, which aimed to crack down on robberies at shopping areas across the state. And in 2025, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie implemented a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/mayor-lurie-launches-sfpd-hospitality-task-force-major-new-effort-to-strengthen-public-safety-drive-economic-comeback\">SFPD Hospitality Task Force\u003c/a>, created specifically to “improve public safety, boost tourism and drive economic recovery in key commercial area(s),” including Union Square.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Much like the rest of downtown San Francisco, Union Square is in a state of transition. Since 2020, \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2023/04/25/union-square-stores-closing-san-francisco/\">more than 15 stores\u003c/a>, ranging from DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) to Saks Fifth Avenue, have left the area. At one point, even Macy’s threatened to vacate its flagship store on the square. This year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912760/what-should-replace-san-francisco-centre\">closure of San Francisco’s largest mall\u003c/a>, three blocks away, didn’t help. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But in the wake of the mass exodus, new stores have appeared, including \u003ca class=\"\" href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/viral-toy-store-quietly-opens-bay-area-20771398.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pop Mart\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2025/08/06/moscot-union-square-geary-fillmore-luxury-eyewear.html\">Moscot\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/zara-open-new-flagship-store-san-francisco-union-square/3839664/\">Zara\u003c/a> and a \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/nintendo-san-francisco-opens-doors-bringing-gaming-world-union-square-2nd-us-location/16426508/\">Nintendo\u003c/a> store.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993100\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shoppers wait in the rain outside of the Pop Mart store in San Francisco’s Union Square on Dec. 23, 2025. (Aidin Vaziri/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“San Francisco is making a conscious effort to put these things here,” says Bankx, describing it as not just post-pandemic rebuilding, but building better. “And I think BAPE was one of those early pieces to fall into place.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With a SUPREME store just minutes away, Bankx sees “synergy within the culture.” Other major brands like \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/28/kith-streetwear-union-square-sf/\">Kith\u003c/a> also have plans to open stores downtown. With the influx, San Francisco itself is rebranding. The question is: Will it have a lasting impact or will it fold during the next economic downturn?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You don’t really know if it’s going to work until you see,” says Bankx.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Given the lines out of the BAPE store and the demand for regionally specific merch — and what’s sure to be a large crowd at Saturday’s event — there’s clearly a healthy market for fashion in Frisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The \u003ca href=\"https://us.bape.com/pages/bape-in-the-bay?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAae0M6GhQgGtgkmjghveF5i_h3pDDQwhLHpxOu0nYy9Ntn8TeCXVPrNiNU5zOA_aem_NmsTk4RfxOdmjDS_8ZeBtw&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3\">BAPE in the Bay\u003c/a> block party takes place on Saturday, Aug. 22, \u003cem>1–5 p.m. \u003c/em>at Union Square Plaza (216 Stockton St., San Francisco). \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcMQjTDs55z/\">Check here for more information.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the turn of the millennium, BAPE had the hip-hop world in a veritable headlock. Now, the Japanese streetwear brand has \u003ca href=\"https://us.bape.com/pages/bape-in-the-bay\">a San Francisco storefront\u003c/a>. Their Union Square location soft-launched over the summer, and this Saturday, Aug. 22, its celebrates its official grand opening with a block party.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At the turn of the millennium, BAPE had the hip-hop world in a veritable headlock. Now, the Japanese streetwear brand has \u003ca href=\"https://us.bape.com/pages/bape-in-the-bay\">a San Francisco storefront\u003c/a>. Their Union Square location soft-launched over the summer, and this Saturday, Aug. 22, its celebrates its official grand opening with a block party.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The brick-and-mortar shop will open at 10 a.m. — earlier than usual — while the block party, just around the corner, will run from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. The free, all-ages event features a live performance from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/p-lo\">Pinole rapper-producer P-Lo\u003c/a>, as well as DJ sets from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cydneychristine/?hl=en\">Lil CC\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/shabazzo/?hl=en\">Shabazz\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13956839/dj-d-sharp\">DJ D Sharp\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The brick-and-mortar shop will open at 10 a.m. — earlier than usual — while the block party, just around the corner, will run from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. The free, all-ages event features a live performance from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/p-lo\">Pinole rapper-producer P-Lo\u003c/a>, as well as DJ sets from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cydneychristine/?hl=en\">Lil CC\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/shabazzo/?hl=en\">Shabazz\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13956839/dj-d-sharp\">DJ D Sharp\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’ll also be restocking all of our sold-out SF BAPE merch,” adds the store’s assistant manager, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/antbankx/\">Ant Bankx\u003c/a>, referring to the special San Francisco-branded apparel that flew off shelves as soon as the store opened. “We’ve had a line every day, out the store,” Bankx attests. “Even for BAPE, that’s not normal.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’ll also be restocking all of our sold-out SF BAPE merch,” adds the store’s assistant manager, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/antbankx/\">Ant Bankx\u003c/a>, referring to the special San Francisco-branded apparel that flew off shelves as soon as the store opened. “We’ve had a line every day, out the store,” Bankx attests. “Even for BAPE, that’s not normal.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993110\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Designer Ant Bankx says San Francisco fashion is thriving, but too often overlooked.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993110\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Designer Ant Bankx says San Francisco fashion is thriving, but too often overlooked.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The company, founded in 1993 by fashion designer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nigo/?hl=en\">Nigo\u003c/a>, has long been a standard of urban wear. By opening a store in Union Square, Bankx says, San Francisco’s fashion scene is getting the recognition it deserves.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The company, founded in 1993 by fashion designer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nigo/?hl=en\">Nigo\u003c/a>, has long been a standard of urban wear. By opening a store in Union Square, Bankx says, San Francisco’s fashion scene is getting the recognition it deserves.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’ve always been here,” says Bankx, “and we’ve always had a voice.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’ve always been here,” says Bankx, “and we’ve always had a voice.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Raised in Richmond, Bankx has styled some of the Bay’s top entertainers, including Rexx Life Raj and Ovrkast. Co-producer of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cafe_gumbo/\">Cafe Gumbo\u003c/a> streetwear pop-up series, Bankx has also worked with local and nationally recognized brands and retailers, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandish.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19573623042&gbraid=0AAAAADtk0K2CZWJkeivHVJmKH6XT5LS14&gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtChymH-kRB7MBeeQiFfx6aEmwajIVNvkdcXbMMGqjzCnDPwF94ZQmzBoCKY4QAvD_BwE\">Oaklandish\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://instagram.com/thestashed/?hl=en\">STASHED SF\u003c/a> and the high-end consignment shop \u003ca href=\"https://shoprelove.com/\">ReLove\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Raised in Richmond, Bankx has styled some of the Bay’s top entertainers, including Rexx Life Raj and Ovrkast. Co-producer of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cafe_gumbo/\">Cafe Gumbo\u003c/a> streetwear pop-up series, Bankx has also worked with local and nationally recognized brands and retailers, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandish.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19573623042&gbraid=0AAAAADtk0K2CZWJkeivHVJmKH6XT5LS14&gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtChymH-kRB7MBeeQiFfx6aEmwajIVNvkdcXbMMGqjzCnDPwF94ZQmzBoCKY4QAvD_BwE\">Oaklandish\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://instagram.com/thestashed/?hl=en\">STASHED SF\u003c/a> and the high-end consignment shop \u003ca href=\"https://shoprelove.com/\">ReLove\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Steeped in Bay Area culture and the world of fashion, Bankx knows all about what’s impeding the region from being credited as a hub for stylish apparel and fly garments.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Steeped in Bay Area culture and the world of fashion, Bankx knows all about what’s impeding the region from being credited as a hub for stylish apparel and fly garments.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“People want fashion to look like how fashion looks everywhere,” he says — but the Bay Area has always developed a style of its own. “It’s not on anyone else’s terms. We’re not imitating New York or Los Angeles, we’re out here doing our own thing. Setting our own vibe.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“People want fashion to look like how fashion looks everywhere,” he says — but the Bay Area has always developed a style of its own. “It’s not on anyone else’s terms. We’re not imitating New York or Los Angeles, we’re out here doing our own thing. Setting our own vibe.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993099\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Union Square in downtown San Francisco, pictured on January 22, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993099\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Union Square in downtown San Francisco, pictured on January 22, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Along with the notion that people aren’t \u003cem>getting fits off\u003c/em> in the Bay, there’s also a reputation that Union Square is trying to shed.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Along with the notion that people aren’t \u003cem>getting fits off\u003c/em> in the Bay, there’s also a reputation that Union Square is trying to shed.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The 2024 attempted robbery and shooting of \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47150842/ricky-pearsall-recounts-shooting-want-live-happy-life\">49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall\u003c/a> in the area, plus a series of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11897148/rash-of-organized-weekend-robberies-target-luxury-stores-across-the-bay-area\">smash-and-grab robberies\u003c/a> at luxury retail stores in 2021, plagued the “brand” of Union Square. While reports of these incidents were accurate, Bankx says the tone online quickly became sensationalized. “Everybody focuses on the negative,” he says.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The 2024 attempted robbery and shooting of \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47150842/ricky-pearsall-recounts-shooting-want-live-happy-life\">49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall\u003c/a> in the area, plus a series of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11897148/rash-of-organized-weekend-robberies-target-luxury-stores-across-the-bay-area\">smash-and-grab robberies\u003c/a> at luxury retail stores in 2021, plagued the “brand” of Union Square. While reports of these incidents were accurate, Bankx says the tone online quickly became sensationalized. “Everybody focuses on the negative,” he says.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-builds-on-downtown-public-safety-progress-with-safety-improvements-ahead-of-busy-holiday-shopping-season\">San Francisco reported\u003c/a> a 40% drop in crime in the area. That came on the heels of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961449/california-targets-smash-and-grabs-with-267-million-program-aimed-at-brazen-store-thefts\">$267 million dollar\u003c/a> California Highway Patrol program announced in 2023, which aimed to crack down on robberies at shopping areas across the state. And in 2025, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie implemented a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/mayor-lurie-launches-sfpd-hospitality-task-force-major-new-effort-to-strengthen-public-safety-drive-economic-comeback\">SFPD Hospitality Task Force\u003c/a>, created specifically to “improve public safety, boost tourism and drive economic recovery in key commercial area(s),” including Union Square.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-builds-on-downtown-public-safety-progress-with-safety-improvements-ahead-of-busy-holiday-shopping-season\">San Francisco reported\u003c/a> a 40% drop in crime in the area. That came on the heels of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961449/california-targets-smash-and-grabs-with-267-million-program-aimed-at-brazen-store-thefts\">$267 million dollar\u003c/a> California Highway Patrol program announced in 2023, which aimed to crack down on robberies at shopping areas across the state. And in 2025, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie implemented a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/mayor-lurie-launches-sfpd-hospitality-task-force-major-new-effort-to-strengthen-public-safety-drive-economic-comeback\">SFPD Hospitality Task Force\u003c/a>, created specifically to “improve public safety, boost tourism and drive economic recovery in key commercial area(s),” including Union Square.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Much like the rest of downtown San Francisco, Union Square is in a state of transition. Since 2020, \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2023/04/25/union-square-stores-closing-san-francisco/\">more than 15 stores\u003c/a>, ranging from DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) to Saks Fifth Avenue, have left the area. At one point, even Macy’s threatened to vacate its flagship store on the square. This year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912760/what-should-replace-san-francisco-centre\">closure of San Francisco’s largest mall\u003c/a>, three blocks away, didn’t help. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Much like the rest of downtown San Francisco, Union Square is in a state of transition. Since 2020, \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2023/04/25/union-square-stores-closing-san-francisco/\">more than 15 stores\u003c/a>, ranging from DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) to Saks Fifth Avenue, have left the area. At one point, even Macy’s threatened to vacate its flagship store on the square. This year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912760/what-should-replace-san-francisco-centre\">closure of San Francisco’s largest mall\u003c/a>, three blocks away, didn’t help. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But in the wake of the mass exodus, new stores have appeared, including \u003ca class=\"\" href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/viral-toy-store-quietly-opens-bay-area-20771398.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pop Mart\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2025/08/06/moscot-union-square-geary-fillmore-luxury-eyewear.html\">Moscot\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/zara-open-new-flagship-store-san-francisco-union-square/3839664/\">Zara\u003c/a> and a \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/nintendo-san-francisco-opens-doors-bringing-gaming-world-union-square-2nd-us-location/16426508/\">Nintendo\u003c/a> store.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“San Francisco is making a conscious effort to put these things here,” says Bankx, describing it as not just post-pandemic rebuilding, but building better. “And I think BAPE was one of those early pieces to fall into place.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“San Francisco is making a conscious effort to put these things here,” says Bankx, describing it as not just post-pandemic rebuilding, but building better. “And I think BAPE was one of those early pieces to fall into place.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With a SUPREME store just minutes away, Bankx sees “synergy within the culture.” Other major brands like \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/28/kith-streetwear-union-square-sf/\">Kith\u003c/a> also have plans to open stores downtown. With the influx, San Francisco itself is rebranding. The question is: Will it have a lasting impact or will it fold during the next economic downturn?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>With a SUPREME store just minutes away, Bankx sees “synergy within the culture.” Other major brands like \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/28/kith-streetwear-union-square-sf/\">Kith\u003c/a> also have plans to open stores downtown. With the influx, San Francisco itself is rebranding. The question is: Will it have a lasting impact or will it fold during the next economic downturn?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You don’t really know if it’s going to work until you see,” says Bankx.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You don’t really know if it’s going to work until you see,” says Bankx.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Given the lines out of the BAPE store and the demand for regionally specific merch — and what’s sure to be a large crowd at Saturday’s event — there’s clearly a healthy market for fashion in Frisco.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Given the lines out of the BAPE store and the demand for regionally specific merch — and what’s sure to be a large crowd at Saturday’s event — there’s clearly a healthy market for fashion in Frisco.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The \u003ca href=\"https://us.bape.com/pages/bape-in-the-bay?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAae0M6GhQgGtgkmjghveF5i_h3pDDQwhLHpxOu0nYy9Ntn8TeCXVPrNiNU5zOA_aem_NmsTk4RfxOdmjDS_8ZeBtw&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3\">BAPE in the Bay\u003c/a> block party takes place on Saturday, Aug. 22, \u003cem>1–5 p.m. \u003c/em>at Union Square Plaza (216 Stockton St., San Francisco). \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcMQjTDs55z/\">Check here for more information.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The \u003ca href=\"https://us.bape.com/pages/bape-in-the-bay?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAae0M6GhQgGtgkmjghveF5i_h3pDDQwhLHpxOu0nYy9Ntn8TeCXVPrNiNU5zOA_aem_NmsTk4RfxOdmjDS_8ZeBtw&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3\">BAPE in the Bay\u003c/a> block party takes place on Saturday, Aug. 22, \u003cem>1–5 p.m. \u003c/em>at Union Square Plaza (216 Stockton St., San Francisco). \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcMQjTDs55z/\">Check here for more information.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "The clothing brand’s opening celebration with P-Lo and others comes amid a rebranding of the area.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>At the turn of the millennium, BAPE had the hip-hop world in a veritable headlock. Now, the Japanese streetwear brand has \u003ca href=\"https://us.bape.com/pages/bape-in-the-bay\">a San Francisco storefront\u003c/a>. Their Union Square location soft-launched over the summer, and this Saturday, Aug. 22, its celebrates its official grand opening with a block party.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The brick-and-mortar shop will open at 10 a.m. — earlier than usual — while the block party, just around the corner, will run from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. The free, all-ages event features a live performance from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/p-lo\">Pinole rapper-producer P-Lo\u003c/a>, as well as DJ sets from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cydneychristine/?hl=en\">Lil CC\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/shabazzo/?hl=en\">Shabazz\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13956839/dj-d-sharp\">DJ D Sharp\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ll also be restocking all of our sold-out SF BAPE merch,” adds the store’s assistant manager, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/antbankx/\">Ant Bankx\u003c/a>, referring to the special San Francisco-branded apparel that flew off shelves as soon as the store opened. “We’ve had a line every day, out the store,” Bankx attests. “Even for BAPE, that’s not normal.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993110\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/DSC01315-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Designer Ant Bankx says San Francisco fashion is thriving, but too often overlooked. (Pendarvis Harshaw/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The company, founded in 1993 by fashion designer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nigo/?hl=en\">Nigo\u003c/a>, has long been a standard of urban wear. By opening a store in Union Square, Bankx says, San Francisco’s fashion scene is getting the recognition it deserves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve always been here,” says Bankx, “and we’ve always had a voice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raised in Richmond, Bankx has styled some of the Bay’s top entertainers, including Rexx Life Raj and Ovrkast. Co-producer of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cafe_gumbo/\">Cafe Gumbo\u003c/a> streetwear pop-up series, Bankx has also worked with local and nationally recognized brands and retailers, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandish.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19573623042&gbraid=0AAAAADtk0K2CZWJkeivHVJmKH6XT5LS14&gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtChymH-kRB7MBeeQiFfx6aEmwajIVNvkdcXbMMGqjzCnDPwF94ZQmzBoCKY4QAvD_BwE\">Oaklandish\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://instagram.com/thestashed/?hl=en\">STASHED SF\u003c/a> and the high-end consignment shop \u003ca href=\"https://shoprelove.com/\">ReLove\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Steeped in Bay Area culture and the world of fashion, Bankx knows all about what’s impeding the region from being credited as a hub for stylish apparel and fly garments.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People want fashion to look like how fashion looks everywhere,” he says — but the Bay Area has always developed a style of its own. “It’s not on anyone else’s terms. We’re not imitating New York or Los Angeles, we’re out here doing our own thing. Setting our own vibe.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993099\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2258368806-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Union Square in downtown San Francisco, pictured on January 22, 2026. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Along with the notion that people aren’t \u003cem>getting fits off\u003c/em> in the Bay, there’s also a reputation that Union Square is trying to shed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The 2024 attempted robbery and shooting of \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47150842/ricky-pearsall-recounts-shooting-want-live-happy-life\">49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall\u003c/a> in the area, plus a series of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11897148/rash-of-organized-weekend-robberies-target-luxury-stores-across-the-bay-area\">smash-and-grab robberies\u003c/a> at luxury retail stores in 2021, plagued the “brand” of Union Square. While reports of these incidents were accurate, Bankx says the tone online quickly became sensationalized. “Everybody focuses on the negative,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-builds-on-downtown-public-safety-progress-with-safety-improvements-ahead-of-busy-holiday-shopping-season\">San Francisco reported\u003c/a> a 40% drop in crime in the area. That came on the heels of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961449/california-targets-smash-and-grabs-with-267-million-program-aimed-at-brazen-store-thefts\">$267 million dollar\u003c/a> California Highway Patrol program announced in 2023, which aimed to crack down on robberies at shopping areas across the state. And in 2025, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie implemented a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/mayor-lurie-launches-sfpd-hospitality-task-force-major-new-effort-to-strengthen-public-safety-drive-economic-comeback\">SFPD Hospitality Task Force\u003c/a>, created specifically to “improve public safety, boost tourism and drive economic recovery in key commercial area(s),” including Union Square.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Much like the rest of downtown San Francisco, Union Square is in a state of transition. Since 2020, \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2023/04/25/union-square-stores-closing-san-francisco/\">more than 15 stores\u003c/a>, ranging from DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) to Saks Fifth Avenue, have left the area. At one point, even Macy’s threatened to vacate its flagship store on the square. This year’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912760/what-should-replace-san-francisco-centre\">closure of San Francisco’s largest mall\u003c/a>, three blocks away, didn’t help. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But in the wake of the mass exodus, new stores have appeared, including \u003ca class=\"\" href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/viral-toy-store-quietly-opens-bay-area-20771398.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pop Mart\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2025/08/06/moscot-union-square-geary-fillmore-luxury-eyewear.html\">Moscot\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/zara-open-new-flagship-store-san-francisco-union-square/3839664/\">Zara\u003c/a> and a \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/nintendo-san-francisco-opens-doors-bringing-gaming-world-union-square-2nd-us-location/16426508/\">Nintendo\u003c/a> store.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13993100\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2252688144-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shoppers wait in the rain outside of the Pop Mart store in San Francisco’s Union Square on Dec. 23, 2025. (Aidin Vaziri/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“San Francisco is making a conscious effort to put these things here,” says Bankx, describing it as not just post-pandemic rebuilding, but building better. “And I think BAPE was one of those early pieces to fall into place.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With a SUPREME store just minutes away, Bankx sees “synergy within the culture.” Other major brands like \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/28/kith-streetwear-union-square-sf/\">Kith\u003c/a> also have plans to open stores downtown. With the influx, San Francisco itself is rebranding. The question is: Will it have a lasting impact or will it fold during the next economic downturn?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You don’t really know if it’s going to work until you see,” says Bankx.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Given the lines out of the BAPE store and the demand for regionally specific merch — and what’s sure to be a large crowd at Saturday’s event — there’s clearly a healthy market for fashion in Frisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The \u003ca href=\"https://us.bape.com/pages/bape-in-the-bay?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAae0M6GhQgGtgkmjghveF5i_h3pDDQwhLHpxOu0nYy9Ntn8TeCXVPrNiNU5zOA_aem_NmsTk4RfxOdmjDS_8ZeBtw&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3\">BAPE in the Bay\u003c/a> block party takes place on Saturday, Aug. 22, \u003cem>1–5 p.m. \u003c/em>at Union Square Plaza (216 Stockton St., San Francisco). \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DcMQjTDs55z/\">Check here for more information.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\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": "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": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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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": {
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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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"radiolab": {
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},
"rightnowish": {
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"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": "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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"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
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"filterData": {
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"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
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"restaurantDataById": {},
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"userAgentReducer": {
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"isBot": true
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"requestOutcomesReducer": {
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}
}
