Outgoers is a weekly column published in partnership with the event newsletter of the same name founded by Josh Constine. Each week, Outgoers texts readers a list of San Francisco events and activities worthy of their time. The Standard features those events, plus a few extra. Sign up for Outgoers by clicking this link on your phone.
Downtown First Thursdays
This week’s block party features Toro Y Moi, who play from 7:30 to 9 p.m. As per usual, 2nd Street will be filled with outdoor bars, art exhibitions, and alleyway dance parties — plus a dog beauty pageant.
- Website
- First Thursdays
- Date and time
- Thursday, Jan. 2, 5 p.m.
- Address
- Market and 2nd streets
First Thursday art walk
A dozen galleries, tattoo shops, and bars in the Tenderloin will feature art exhibitions and performances.
- Website
- Art walk
- Date and time
- Thursday, Jan. 2, 6 p.m.
World’s largest origami tree at Grace Cathedral
Check out the final week of the World Tree of Hope, built from thousands of origami cranes inscribed with wishes for the future.
- Website
- World Tree of Hope
- Date and time
- Through Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Garbage Age Fashion and Art reception
Independent artists from the Piles Collective will showcase art and fashion made with found and upcycled materials at MAG Galleries in the Mission, plus a violin performance by Paula Karolak.
- Website
- RSVP
- Date and time
- Friday, Jan. 3, 5 p.m.
- Address
- MAG Galleries, 3931 18th St.
North Beach First Friday art walk
This art walk, in its 18th year, includes a poetry crawl across seven venues plus live music, gallery openings, and acrobats in the Italian neighborhood’s historic bars.
- Website
- Art walk
- Date and time
- Friday, Jan. 3, 5 p.m.
- Address
- Multiple locations
Delusions of Grandeur variety talent show
Wicked Talented Friends, aka WTF, is throwing a talent show featuring music, poetry, storytelling, comedy, and more. The community group is also running a clothing drive for unhoused people in Oakland.
- Website
- Tickets
- Date and time
- Friday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m.
Smartbomb art and music party
Oakland arts collective Smartbomb curates a night of performances across multiple floors at SFJazz Center, including Shigeto, Rebirth Jazz, and Linafornia, as well as DJ sets, visuals, and local vendors.
- Website
- Tickets
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 4, 4 p.m.
The Last Supper poetry and music party
This month’s spoken word and music series will feature Marin’s youth poet laureate ambassador, Clarisse Kim, plus Filipina singer Frances Ancheta and Oakland writer Tadeh Kennedy.
- Website
- RSVP
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 4, 6 p.m.
- Address
- Temo's Cafe, 3000 24th St.
HellaFunny comedy showcase
Catch up-and-coming standup acts Terrell “Big T” Butler and Marco Chiang at this HellaFunny-produced showcase at the Function. Tickets cost $20 at the door.
- Website
- RSVP
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 4, 6:45 p.m.
Animal print rave
Show off your PLUR vibes at this high-tempo day-glow rave going late at a secret location.
- Website
- Animal print rave
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 p.m.
- Address
- Secret location
SSounds[live] one-year anniversary dance party
Multimedia events crew SSounds celebrates one year of parties with a night of dance music featuring Yurimagination and Suhcorro.
- Website
- RSVP
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 p.m.
- Address
- The Felix, 138 Mason St.
Bootie Mashups New Year’s Eve do-over party
If you screwed up New Year’s, dance yourself clean with two rooms of pop and dance music mashups, burlesque performances, video projections, and a midnight confetti countdown.
- Website
- Tickets
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 p.m.
- Address
- Cat Club, 1190 Folsom St.
Winter Selkie party with piano and live music
The New Farm community space in Bayview hosts performers that include John Brothers Piano Company, La Dee Da, and Lucie R., plus bike-powered Cyclecide carnival rides.
- Website
- Party
- Date and time
- Sunday, Jan. 5, 3 p.m.
- Address
- The New Farm, 10 Cargo Way
AI demo night at Github
Join the Bay Area’s top builders for a night of food, drinks, and demos of the latest advances in AI technologies and applications.
- Website
- Register
- Date and time
- Wednesday, Jan. 8, 6 p.m.