If you don’t already live in the East Bay, your friends probably do, and it might be time to consider a move over the bridge anyway. There are endless opportunities for fall entertainment in the East Bay, so those of us who live here can stay put and avoid parking nightmares and tourists in SF. Many of us have to work in The City, so we appreciate being able to stay on the east side for spectacular weekend fun.
Lorde
Oct. 2
Greek Theatre, UC Berkeley
Tickets and Information
If you’re kind of over getting told to throw your hands up in the air like Lorde claims to be, then you can both happily keep your hands down during her show at The Greek on Oct. 2. Find your darkest lipstick and moodiest moves. You will never be royal, but you will be vibing out in a charming local outdoor venue while teenager Lorde perfects her stage presence.
Mavis Staples
Oct. 30
Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley
Tickets and Information
Mavis Staples was the youngest member of the Staple Singers, who were famous for “Respect Yourself” and lending their talents to the Free Speech movement. Mavis funny as hell and she’ll be performing, as she has been her entire life, with her whole heart and soul, at Cal Performances. And listen to some great storytelling by Mavis on a recent episode of Wait, wait… Don’t Tell Me.
American Wonder: Folk Art from the Collection
Oct. 1
Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley
Tickets and Information
I love folk art. Folk art reminds us that anyone can make art, and you don’t need a fancy MFA degree to do it. The Berkeley Art Museum is dusting off their collection of American Folk Art for a new exhibit. Check it out before heading to the PFA’s outdoor movie screenings nearby.
Endless Summer Cinema
Oct. 3 & 10
Pacific Film Archive
Tickets and Information
The Pacific Film Archive will present outdoor screenings of two classics, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and This is Spinal Tap . Bring a blanket and some snacks, and it’ll feel like the good old days when you could always watch movies outdoors and Netflix didn’t exist.
Oakland Underground Film Festival
Sept. 25-28
Grand Lake Theater and Humanist Hall, Oakland
Tickets and Information
If you’d rather catch films of a different nature, check out the Oakland Underground Film Festival. The festival defines underground as “unconventional, bottom-up, misfit, badass, outsider, outlaw, rebel, underdog, minority, local, urban, green, and revolutionary.” So you know what you’re in for.
David Sedaris
Nov. 15
Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley
Tickets and Informatiuon
David Sedaris never disappoints and he’s making a classy appearance at Cal Performances where he’ll be in conversation with UC Berkeley chancellor Nicholas Dirks. Read Sedaris’s latest book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls before you head over the Zellerbach Hall to see the man himself.
Fertile Ground
Sept. 20-April 12
Oakland Museum of California
Tickets and Information
Fertile Ground is a joint exhibition organized by SFMOMA and the Oakland Museum featuring well-known schools of artists who lived, worked or studied in California. Highlighting art from both museums’ collections, the exhibit aims to expose the “relationships, breakthroughs and transformative social change” that make up the landscape of contemporary California art. You’ll see the usual suspects like Diebenkorn, Arneson and Thiebaud, along with artists who became known in the ‘90s Mission scene, including several of my favorite female painters, Margaret Kilgallen, Alicia McCarthy and Ruby Neri, along with recent Art School alum, Chris Johanson, and another local hero, Barry McGee.
Closely Considered: Diebenkorn in Berkeley
Sept. 14-Nov. 16
Richmond Art Center, Richmond
Tickets and Information
If you want more Diebenkorn, especially drawings from his Berkeley years, head to the Richmond Art Center for Closely Considered, an exhibit that will focus on Diebenkorn, but also feature his pals from the Bay Area Figurative art movement. The Art Center is close to Richmond BART and is worth the trip. You can even sign up for an art class if you’re feeling inspired after diving into Diebenkorn.
Fractured Fauna featuring Misako Inaoka
Sept. 5
Johansson Projects
Tickets and Information
Misako Inaoka creates curious, foreboding creatures out of unusual materials, and her latest mysterious menagerie is crafted with upholstery. See her latest series, Fractured Fauna, at Johansson Projects. The show opens Aug. 23 and the official reception, where you can meet the artist, is in early September.
Kim Miscowicz: Formation
Sept. 5- Oct. 11
Krowswork, Oakland
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Not far from Johansson projects, Krowswork features ambitious art and film projects in their Oakland space. Kim Miscowicz opens a new show at Krowswork called Formation. Her dreamy landscapes, created by melding video and painting together, are difficult to imagine. Clearly, they need to be seen in person.
The Way Somewhere
Sept. 5-Oct.5
Royal Nonesuch Gallery, Oakland
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A group show at Royal Nonesuch Gallery opens on Sept. 5 with four artists, including Bessma Khalaf, whose video work is mesmerizing and abruptly stunning, and Sarah Applebaum, who I befriended after covering one of her shows in 2009 in SF. Applebaum has narrowed her color palette over the last five years. Her new work is heavy with meaning and she always wows the crowd. Abraham McNally and Adam Thorman will also be exhibiting new work in this show.
Fall Lineup at The Fox
Sept. & Oct.
The Fox Theater, Oakland
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Let’s get back to the music. If you want to dance or rage, you can see Sam Smith (9/28), Thievery Corporation (10/2), Lykke Li (9/21) and Die Antwoord (9/25) at the Fox Theater this fall, or you can chill with the 30-something crowd and catch Interpol (9/20) after some artisan drinks at Flora.
Fall Lineup at The New Parrish
Sept. & Oct.
The New Parrish, Oakland
Tickets and Information
If mainstream music isn’t your jam, head over to the New Parrish. The fall lineup includes Kyrsten Bean (9/10), a local singer-songwriter who will appear in the upcoming documentary Clean and Sober Punx. And Dead Winter Carpenters (9/5), who hail from Tahoe, are also on tap. Sample their album on Bandcamp to see if you dig their fast, folky rock tunes.
And there you have it—13+ reasons to stay in the East Bay this fall. Enjoy your arty adventures and leave a comment if you have a recommendation for this list.