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Tenderloin Museum

398 Eddy Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
415-351-1912
San Francisco California

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Tenderloin Museum

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Public Programs 2018

 

Featured
Holiday Bazaar!
Dec 20
December 20, 2018
Holiday Bazaar!
December 20, 2018

‘Tis the season for the Tenderloin Museum’s annual holiday bazaar! Come enjoy festive holiday libations, snacks, and tunes (by DJ Tylawave) while you shop a pop-up marketplace flush with neighborhood wares from local artist-vendors. Some treasures awaiting you include ceramics, leather goods, tote bags, jewelry, candles, plants, and vintage pieces. Curate unique gift boxes this year while supporting the arts!

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December 20, 2018
Winter Gala and Book Release
Dec 12
December 12, 2018
Winter Gala and Book Release
December 12, 2018

You are cordially invited to the Tenderloin Museum's Winter Gala benefiting the Tenderloin Museum and its many endeavours. We are overjoyed to share with you the unveiling of The Match Book: Tenderloin Historical Ephemera Project. Enjoy a charming evening with enchanting cocktails and alluring edibles; and be one of the very first to take home the hot-off-the-press publication of The Match Book: Vintage Matchbooks from San Francisco’s Tenderloin! The exquisite illustrations and enchanting tales will make The Match Book a splendid holiday gift! (Preorders available now.)

We appreciate all the love and support we receive from our community. Your support makes all that we do possible.

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December 12, 2018
Urban Abstracts by Patricia Araujo
Dec 6
December 6, 2018
Urban Abstracts by Patricia Araujo
December 6, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum is pleased to present Urban Abstracts, a collection of paintings by the renowned artist Patricia Araujo. For over a decade, Araujo has painted the facades of both iconic city landmarks and downtown buildings. A lauded San Francisco artist whose paintings celebrate San Francisco cityscapes, Araujo exults the beauty of what can appear commonplace. “In my cityscapes, I sense the presence of the silent stage uninterrupted by inhabitants. My works speaks about the possibility of growth and renewal, exploring architectural practice as both imagination and reality. A marvelous city, that is in constant flux.” 

Araujo continues to deepen her conceptual themes of architecture, place, and change in the urban landscape, addressing evolution, decay, and renewal. She has always been particularly fascinated with domes, towers, sacred, and municipal structures. “While living in SOMA, I witnessed the changes taking place in this redeveloping neighborhood, and found myself enchanted by the rich architectural history of that area and the decayed beauty that remains,” said Araujo. On display at the Tenderloin Museum from December 6th 2018 - February 3rd 2019, Araujo presents a collection of paintings featuring architecture from the Tenderloin, SOMA, and Mid-Market. Don’t miss this mesmerizing tribute to the art of architecture in our own backyard.

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December 6, 2018
Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra
Nov 27
November 27, 2018
Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra
November 27, 2018

Imagine a Bay Area supergroup that combined the firepower of the Jefferson Airplane, the improvisational brio of the Grateful Dead, and the harmonic prowess of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young – with Joni Mitchell sitting in. Now imagine that this group really existed and made some of the best recordings of their era. That’s the Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra (a.k.a. PERRO) -- the unofficial name for the loose confederation of psychedelicized folk-rockers behind a series of boundary-stretching albums that included Volunteers (credited to the Airplane), Blows Against the Empire, Baron Von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun, and Sunfighter(credited to Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, and Jefferson Starship), and David Crosby’s masterpiece If I Could Only Remember My Name. On November 27, 2018 at the Tenderloin Museum, New York Times bestselling author and lifelong music fan Steve Silberman will bring to light the secret history behind these legendary sessions, which were recorded at Wally Heider’s famed studio in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
 
Probing the evolution of PERRO from the early days of beatnik-influenced communal living in Venice Beach, through the peak of the Summer of Love in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury, to the post-“Death of Hippie” diaspora in the Watergate era, Silberman will chronicle the rise and fall of this unusually inspired and inspiring body of work, which stands out as some of the most creative and innovative music produced by these gifted musicians, and still sounds fresh today. Silberman’s appearance at the Tenderloin Museum will include the playing of some rare unreleased recordings and a booksigning. By appraising the PERRO legacy, he will also weigh the larger contributions of the ‘60s-era “counterculture” to music today.

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November 27, 2018
Thanks to Hank: Kickoff for the Kickstarter
Nov 20
November 20, 2018
Thanks to Hank: Kickoff for the Kickstarter
November 20, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum, the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, and Cleve Jones present Thanks to Hank: Kickoff for the Kickstarter, an evening celebrating the life of storied Tenderloin hero, Hank Wilson. We invite our community to help support the upcoming documentary film on one of the city’s most preeminent LGBTQ activist entitled “Thanks to Hank.” This event marks the kickoff of the film’s Kickstarter campaign, join us in paying tribute to his incredible legacy.

Hank Wilson’s work in San Francisco’s Tenderloin spanned 30 years, and included co-founding and spearheading organizations such as the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club (home of San Francisco's queer, progressive left). While leading these groups, Wilson also ran the Ambassador Hotel SRO in an effort to bring harm reduction housing to low-income residents living with HIV and AIDS. “Thanks to Hank” is a feature film observing the selfless spirit and assiduous work of this beloved Tenderloin character.

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November 20, 2018
Drove V
Nov 2
November 2, 2018 – November 3, 2018
Drove V
November 2, 2018 – November 3, 2018

Friday, November 2nd 6:30pm - 9pm

Saturday, November 3rd 6:30pm - 9pm

The Tenderloin Museum is excited to host Chlo & Co Dance for the company’s biannual show, Drove. Drove V will be developed and performed by Chlo & Co Dance, joined by their curated guest artists, many of whom have connections to the Tenderloin: Bellwether Dance Project, Malia Byrne, Michael D. Lee, pateldanceworks, and Requisitedance. Chlo & Co Dance will create a new piece in conversation with TLM artist-in-residence Deirdre Weinberg’s Living Memory in the TL. 

The founders of Chlo & Co Dance, Courtney King and Chloë Zimberg, share an interest in social justice; they designed their company’s Drove series to be community based performances that use movement and visual art to amplify the voice and impact of their guest artists’ visions. Guest artists are given prompts by King and Zimberg that are compositionally and thematically curated to address an overarching theme. For Drove V, King and Zimberg chose the theme of “preservation,” which also serves as the conceptual entry point to Weinberg’s visual investigations of memory and representation as (im)perfect modes of preservation. Chlo & Co Dance’s performance will respond to Weinberg’s sprawling, richly detailed map-mural of scenes, faces, and places in the TL. 

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November 2, 2018 – November 3, 2018
Strange San Francisco
Oct 23
October 23, 2018
Strange San Francisco
October 23, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum welcomes the return of resident magician and mesmerizing storyteller Christian Cagigal for Strange San Francisco, an evening of surprising and unsettling tales that explore the uncanny underbelly of San Francisco’s history of record. For this chilling story hour’s fourth edition, Cagigal has summoned the city’s most tortured souls to provide the night’s entertainment--legends so outlandish and unexpected they can barely be believed. Steel your soul for this gripping set of haunted histories from San Francisco’s dead and buried past!

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October 23, 2018
Drag Queen Bingo ft. Persia
Oct 19
October 19, 2018
Drag Queen Bingo ft. Persia
October 19, 2018

Drag Queen Bingo is back!

Come down to the Tenderloin Museum Friday, October 19th for our third installment of the wildly successful Drag Queen Bingo! This fabulous fundraiser is inspired by the neighborhood’s long and storied history of gambling, and supports our ongoing diverse and dynamic programming. Come for the drag, stay for the party, and hopefully leave lucky! If luck be your lady, you will be going home with some fabulous prizes ranging from the experiential to the material!

We are honored to have the one and only, dear friend of the museum, Per Sia as our mistress of ceremonies! You have seen at a few of our events already -- in the Tenderloin Museum’s production of “The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot,” Drag Queen Story Hour, on the main stage at this year’s SF Pride, and our recent fundraiser for the San Francisco Rock Project. Persia is an undeniable drag gem and scene stealer!

Come by the museum and try your luck, for what is life without risk? And what is risk without cause? That cause is the creation of a special match book exhibition! The Tenderloin Match Book: Historical Ephemera Project will make its debut in January of 2019. The two-part exhibition and series of 10 public programs aims to uncover and preserve the neighborhood’s retail and business history of the 1920’s-1950’s as told through these tiny works of art which may serve as the only remaining link.

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October 19, 2018
Deirdre Weinberg: Living Memory in the TL
Oct 4
October 4, 2018 – November 29, 2018
Deirdre Weinberg: Living Memory in the TL
October 4, 2018 – November 29, 2018

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 4th 6pm - 9pm

ArtSpan SF Open Studios: Saturday & Sunday, October 13th & 14th 11am - 5pm

Closing Reception: Thursday, November 29th 6pm - 9pm

The Tenderloin Museum is excited to welcome visual artist Deirdre Weinberg into its gallery space for ArtSpanSF Open Studios 2018. The artist has lived and worked in San Francisco for over 25 years; her dynamic artistic practice ranges from quickly drawn mini portraits to large scale public murals but is grounded in a sensitivity to her environment and immediate community. “I have always recorded my reactions to the world around me, even if it's not beautiful,” Weinberg says in her artist statement, “though I do seek to show beauty where it might be overlooked.” This perspective makes Weinberg an ideal artist-in-residence at the Tenderloin Museum, one who can create at the intersection of the neighborhood’s long, storied history and its persisting themes of transition, perseverance, and compassion.

Weinberg’s SF Open Studios project is an ambitious hybrid of portraiture and cartography, living memory and historic record. The artist will assemble a street map of the Tenderloin comprised of past and future artworks that represent people and places of the neighborhood, an homage to both the Tenderloin’s distinctive built environment and the luminous neighborhood map on the Tenderloin Museum’s ceiling. In an effort to invite people into her practice, Weinberg will add to her map throughout Living Memory in the TL’s run, making portraits of visitors at the Opening Reception (October 4th) as well as the SF Open Studios weekend (October 13-14). There will be many opportunities to view this map mural as it grows and expands, a living testament to the Tenderloin past and present.

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October 4, 2018 – November 29, 2018
The Shoots: Life Is Fare screening with director Sephora Woldu
Sep 27
September 27, 2018
The Shoots: Life Is Fare screening with director Sephora Woldu
September 27, 2018
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September 27, 2018
Tenderloin Dog Show at Sunday Streets
Sep 23
September 23, 2018
Tenderloin Dog Show at Sunday Streets
September 23, 2018
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September 23, 2018
Tenderloin Museum at the 8th Annual Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival
Sep 22
September 22, 2018
Tenderloin Museum at the 8th Annual Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival
September 22, 2018
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September 22, 2018
Skywatchers Movie Night: Agents of Change
Sep 21
September 21, 2018
Skywatchers Movie Night: Agents of Change
September 21, 2018
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September 21, 2018
Featured
Drag Us Back To School! SF Rock Project Fundraiser
Sep 15
September 15, 2018
Drag Us Back To School! SF Rock Project Fundraiser
September 15, 2018
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September 15, 2018
The Shoots: The Making-Of Life Is Fare Exhibit Opening
Sep 6
September 6, 2018
The Shoots: The Making-Of Life Is Fare Exhibit Opening
September 6, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum is thrilled to present a “making-of” exhibition about the independent, locally produced feature film Life Is Fare, curated by the film’s director, Sephora Woldu. Shot in the Tenderloin, Life is Fare is a Tigrinya and English language film that explores three wildly different perspectives on the East African nation of Eritrea. Inspired by current Eritrean and Ethiopian migration journeys, the film portrays global conversations about identity with a keen, intimate sense of place. “The Shoots” is a colloquial term used by Woldu to reference the seemingly endless movie-making efforts over 2015 to 2018, the time that it took to shoot, re-shoot, re-re-shoot, post-produce, and promote the finished product of Life is Fare. The gallery show, on view from September 6th to 30th, is an existential roar that commemorates the Tenderloin and the Eritrean community that calls the neighborhood home while celebrating the success of Life Is Fare.

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September 6, 2018
Drugs In the Tenderloin Screening ft. Director Robert Zagone
Aug 30
August 30, 2018
Drugs In the Tenderloin Screening ft. Director Robert Zagone
August 30, 2018

Join us for a rare opportunity to see Robert Zagone's guerilla-style documentary that captures the Tenderloin transforming into a center for young queers and drug users. Premiered on KQED in 1966, this visceral flick wasn't shown again in public until 2015 when it was rediscovered by the Tenderloin Museum. Zagone's footage is a revealing time-capsule of '60s SF, and his camerawork gives a whole new meaning to "eyes on the street." The intimacy and intensity with which Drugs in the Tenderloin paints its subjects transports viewers to a time and place on the edge. The film is one of the few records of the TL’s marginalized communities during one of the pivotal moments in the neighborhood’s history.

On Thursday, August 30th, we’ll revisit this essential piece of Tenderloin cinema and are incredibly fortunate to have the director, Robert Zagone, introduce the film and answer questions following the screening. Randall Ann Homan and Al Barna of SF Neon will provide historical context for the film’s bygone neon landscapes and discuss the Tenderloin’s rich collection of surviving neon signs with an eye to restoration. Drugs In the Tenderloin is not streaming or available commercially--your chance to peek into SF’s underground of yore is at the Tenderloin Museum!

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August 30, 2018
Acting UP: GIRLFLY Visuals
Aug 16
August 16, 2018
Acting UP: GIRLFLY Visuals
August 16, 2018
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August 16, 2018
Tenderloin Neon A-Z: Discussion & Film Screening
Aug 9
August 9, 2018
Tenderloin Neon A-Z: Discussion & Film Screening
August 9, 2018

Join us on August 9th as we announce our new initiative, Tenderloin Neon A-Z, a collaboration between the Tenderloin Museum, SF Neon, and San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) to restore neon signs in the Tenderloin neighborhood. This association is a continues and expands upon the valuable work being done by SF Shines, part of OEWD’s Invest In Neighborhoods Initiative. To celebrate this newly minted alliance between the city’s most dedicated neon people, the Tenderloin Museum is screening selections from Gay San Francisco, Drugs in the Tenderloin, and Neon, followed by a neon history & preservation discussion featuring SF Neon founders Al Barna & Randall Ann Homan as well as Darcy Bender from the OEWD.

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August 9, 2018
Neon+Fire: The Art of Tube Bending
Aug 2
August 2, 2018
Neon+Fire: The Art of Tube Bending
August 2, 2018

On August 2nd Shawna Peterson and Libby Cahill will host a neon letterform bending demonstration on-site at the Tenderloin Museum. Peterson is the artist responsible for the glowing “Home” sign-sculpture in the Tenderloin Museum’s Neon Home gallery show, and she has earned a reputation as a master tubebend and torchbearer for the light source. Her work has been featured in Wired and KQED’s Bay Curious podcast, and her piece “Neon Noise Reduction,” commissioned by Dolby Laboratories, is contemporary masterpiece of intricacy and craft. Peterson will be joined by fellow tubebender Libby Cahill for an up-close demonstration of the by-hand processes that go into creating a new neon, meticulously shaping and slicing tubes against white-hot flames. Neon Home will be on display in the Tenderloin Museum gallery through August 12, 2018. 

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August 2, 2018
Tenderloin Neon A-Z Walking Tour
Jul 26
July 26, 2018
Tenderloin Neon A-Z Walking Tour
July 26, 2018
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July 26, 2018
GLIDE Legacy Committee Presents: A Social Justice Film Festival
Jul 12
July 12, 2018
GLIDE Legacy Committee Presents: A Social Justice Film Festival
July 12, 2018

The Bay Area is full of moving stories that embody the mission of GLIDE, which is to create a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization. The GLIDE Legacy Committee has selected a few documentary short films that beautifully reflect GLIDE's values and message, which are rooted in transformation, empathy, and inclusion.


We invite you to join us for an exciting, thought-provoking evening of documentary shorts, filmed and produced by local artists, that demonstrate the resilience and grace of the human spirit. Drinks and light refreshments will be available.


Doors open at 6:30 pm

Program: 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Q&A with filmmakers: 8:30 – 9:00 pm


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To learn more about the GLIDE Legacy Committee, please visit glide.org/legacycomittee

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July 12, 2018
Drag Queen Bingo ft. Cruzin D'Loo
Jun 29
June 29, 2018
Drag Queen Bingo ft. Cruzin D'Loo
June 29, 2018

Drag Queen Bingo returns to the Tenderloin Museum on Friday, June 29th! Inspired by the neighborhood’s long and storied history of gambling, we’ve decided to throw a fundraiser that supports the diverse, dynamic programming at the Tenderloin Museum while providing the thrill of a brush with Lady Luck. That Lady, of course, is Cruzin D’Loo, who will reprise her role as the host of Drag Queen Bingo. Unrivaled in charisma and comedic ability, Lady Loo plucks bingo balls from the basket with the utmost finesse and grace. Will the ball reveal the number you need? Buy a few cards and find out on Friday, June 29th. 

Join us for a raucous evening replete with prizes fit for a Queen, such as a signed photo of Klay Thompson direct from the Championship Golden State Warriors, a pair of tickets to a show at the historic Warfield Theater, a piece by acclaimed Tenderloin photographer Darwin Bell, and many more!

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June 29, 2018
The Compton's Cafeteria Riot on SF Pride Main Stage!
Jun 23
June 23, 2018
The Compton's Cafeteria Riot on SF Pride Main Stage!
June 23, 2018
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June 23, 2018
Light Source & Letterforms: Neon Talk + Opening of "Neon Home" Art Show
Jun 12
June 12, 2018
Light Source & Letterforms: Neon Talk + Opening of "Neon Home" Art Show
June 12, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum is thrilled to host SF Neon for an evening of illuminating presentations by graphically inclined neon enthusiasts, plus the opening of a neon-centric art show in our gallery space. Neon Light Source & Letterforms will convene the burgeoning neon community in the Tenderloin, a hotbed of heritage glow and striking neon signage, as part of San Francisco Design Week 2018. Join us for an examination of some notable neon sign survivors and preservation projects in the Bay Area, as well as several expert views on neon’s persisting allure and design potential.  

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June 12, 2018
Tenderloin Museum Third Anniversary Celebration
Jun 9
June 9, 2018
Tenderloin Museum Third Anniversary Celebration
June 9, 2018

2018 marks year number 3 for the Tenderloin Museum! Please join us for our Anniversary Party, a full day of free, family-friendly programming at the Museum that celebrates the diverse and impactful efforts of the Tenderloin community both past and present. In a time marked by an urgent and invigorating surge in advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement, the Tenderloin’s history is more relevant and inspiring than ever.

This year, the Tenderloin Museum aims to highlight and reflect upon the pioneering activism and fierce resistance woven deep into the story of our 31 square blocks. Anniversary programming will center around the world premiere of TENDER (n.): a person who takes charge, a site-specific dance celebrating 100 years of outcast activism in the Tenderloin.

Daytime events include Drag Queen Story Hour, a preview of the Exploratorium + Civic Center Commons, live music and spoken word by Larkin Street Youth, traditional folk music, song, and dance by the Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center, a presentation by Ivy Anderson and Devon Angus, authors of Alice: Memoirs of a Barbary Coast Prostitute, as well as a talkback and drag revue by the writers and cast of The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot.

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June 9, 2018
TENDER (n.): a person who takes charge
Jun 7
June 7, 2018 – June 16, 2018
TENDER (n.): a person who takes charge
June 7, 2018 – June 16, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum and Flyaway Productions are proud to announce the world premiere of TENDER (n.): A PERSON WHO TAKES CHARGE, a site-specific aerial dance celebrating 100 years of “outcast activism” in the Tenderloin. Tender runs June 7 – 16 at the Cadillac Hotel, located at 380 Eddy Street, with performances at 8:30 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Matinee performances at 12:30 pm will take place on Friday, June 8 and 15. Two additional performances at 9:30 pm will take place on Saturday, June 9 and 16. All performances are free, as is admission to the Tenderloin Museum, located on the ground floor of the Cadillac Hotel, during each performance.

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June 7, 2018 – June 16, 2018
LGBTQ History in the TL Walking Tour
May 24
May 24, 2018
LGBTQ History in the TL Walking Tour
May 24, 2018

On May 24th, architectural historian and preservation activist Shayne Watson will lead a walking tour through the TL focused on LGBTQ-sites and the discussion of how best to honor a crucial, intangible legacy in physical (but often altered) locations. Her pioneering work expands the language of preservationists to recognize LGBTQ sites as well as streamlines the process to landmark historic buildings. This special walking tour is a rare opportunity to explore one of the earliest and most historic LGBTQ enclaves in San Francisco with an expert in the field.

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May 24, 2018
Lewd & Lascivious: Documentary Screening about the 1965 Raid on California Hall
May 15
May 15, 2018
Lewd & Lascivious: Documentary Screening about the 1965 Raid on California Hall
May 15, 2018

The 2012 documentary Lewd & Lascivious recounts then now infamous 1965 police raid on California Hall, the aftermath of which crystallized an inter-faith alliance against the SFPD’s discriminatory harassment. Following the screening, the Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer will host a panel featuring Ms. Joanne Chadwick, Executive Director Emeritus for the Commission for Women, ELCA and The Rev. Charles Lewis, ELCA San Francisco Night Minister Emeritus, both of whom were present at the dance and featured in the film.

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May 15, 2018
TENDER (n.): A Person Who Takes Charge Reception for the Vietnamese Community + Sunday Streets
May 6
May 6, 2018
TENDER (n.): A Person Who Takes Charge Reception for the Vietnamese Community + Sunday Streets
May 6, 2018

Tenderloin Museum and Flyaway Productions invite the Vietnamese community to the Museum on May 6th to learn about TENDER (n.): a person who takes charge. This site specific public art performance will take place on the outdoor walls of the Cadillac Hotel and will features stories of outcast activism in the neighborhood over the last 100 years, including stories of Vietnamese people’s arrival in the neighborhood and efforts to thrive here. The shows will take place June 7-16, 2018 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

As the director of TENDER, choreographer Jo Kreiter will speak about her experiences making community responsive public art. Composer Vân-Ánh Võ will talk about making the music for this project, and will share some of that music at the reception.

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May 6, 2018
NEON SPEAKS: Symposium & Spotlight Forum
Apr 21
April 21, 2018
NEON SPEAKS: Symposium & Spotlight Forum
April 21, 2018

At night, the Tenderloin is illuminated by some of SF's most historic and iconic neon signs. The craft and construction of this century old medium is a captivating and enduring force of color and beauty in the visual landscapes of our lives. Thus, the Tenderloin Museum is thrilled to host the Neon Speaks Symposium and Spotlight Forum, a central event in the Neon Speaks Festival & Symposium: a Celebration of Neon Signs. The weekend-long festival is presented by the San Francisco Neon/Historic Neon Network, a non-profit organization sponsored by the Tenderloin Museum that aims to raise awareness and promote information sharing about the artistic legacy of historic neon signs and restoration best practices. The ticketed Saturday afternoon Symposium at the Tenderloin Museum will feature many luminaries from the neon community, followed by a free “Spotlight Forum” on the future of neon preservation.

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April 21, 2018
The Spooky, Strange, and Magical History of San Francisco, Volume 3
Apr 10
April 10, 2018
The Spooky, Strange, and Magical History of San Francisco, Volume 3
April 10, 2018

The magician and raconteur Christian Cagigal returns to the Tenderloin Museum to share a freshly unearthed set of bizarre tales about San Francisco’s fantastic and forgotten past. A charismatic performer, Cagigal channels an old-fashioned showmanship to transport audiences into the uncanny dimension of his stranger-than-fiction characters and lost lore.

 

At this third edition of the Spooky, Strange, and Magical History of San Fancisco, attendees will be regaled with stories of Charles Carter, the famous Vaudeville magician whose show stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as Gertrude Atherton, the feminist novelist whose husband returned from sea dead in a barrel of rum. Add to that a haunting at the nearby Curran Theatre and a few cemeteries full of exhumed corpses, and one is guaranteed a dazzling evening of storytelling.

 

Cagigal’s previous story hours at the Museum were immensely popular amongst both history buffs and acolytes of the obscure. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the underbelly of Bay Area history with a most charming, dramatic guide. Join us on Tuesday, April 10th for a reading at 7pm. 

 

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April 10, 2018
The Heart of the City: Photography by Darwin Bell
Apr 5
April 5, 2018
The Heart of the City: Photography by Darwin Bell
April 5, 2018

Photographer Darwin Bell returns to the Tenderloin Museum’s gallery with a collection of vivid imagery plucked from the streets of his adoptive home: the TL. Bell’s sense of place is a strong one. “I don’t like directing a photo,” Bell told the Tenderloin Museum, “I like letting the setting direct me.”

“Heart of the City” is comprised of twenty digital prints on metal that celebrate the iconoclastic neighborhood’s perpetual state of metamorphosis. The artist will be present for an opening reception on April 5th as part of #SFfirstThursdays Art Walk.

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April 5, 2018
THE PENALTY: Special Screening On Location at The Old Mint!
Mar 29
March 29, 2018
THE PENALTY: Special Screening On Location at The Old Mint!
March 29, 2018

The Penalty is a frightening noir that draws heavily on San Francisco's historical viceland and stars Lon Chaney in his breakout role as Blizzard, a vengeful, amputee crimelord hell-bent on robbing the Old Mint. Now, nearly a century later, the California Historical Society and the Tenderloin Museum are granting this gangster his wish by screening The Penaltyinside the Mint’s majestic receiving room, replete with a live musical score and a century-spanning presentation on the film’s many recognizable locales.

 

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March 29, 2018
THE STAIRS: Film Screening with GLIDE Harm Reduction
Mar 23
March 23, 2018
THE STAIRS: Film Screening with GLIDE Harm Reduction
March 23, 2018

The documentary, The Stairs, profiles social workers at Toronto's Regent Park Community Health Centre, all of whom are former or current drug users. The Stairs tells the story of Marty, Greg and Roxanne, who each survived decades of street-involvement. Using their experiences to ease the paths of others, they perform social work in their old neighborhood, while struggling to maintain their newly-found stability. Told over five years, The Stairs examines life on society’s margins. Defying stereotypes through intimate portraits, its remarkable subjects are surprising, funny, shocking and moving. This compassionate film looks at progressive urban drug policies alongside the human realities of addiction.

 

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-stairs-film-screening-with-glide-harm-reduction-tickets-44160871355

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March 23, 2018
Crochet Jam at the Tenderloin Museum
Mar 1
March 1, 2018
Crochet Jam at the Tenderloin Museum
March 1, 2018
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March 1, 2018
Quiet As They Come & Birds Of Paradise Lost: Viet-Lit In SF
Feb 25
February 25, 2018
Quiet As They Come & Birds Of Paradise Lost: Viet-Lit In SF
February 25, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum is thrilled to collaborate with the Asian Art Museum on hosting a literary reading featuring renowned Vietnamese-American authors, Andrew Lam and Angie Chau. Both authors have written extensively about coming of age in San Francisco in the ‘80s through the lens of the Vietnamese immigrant experience. As members of the Diasporic Vietnamese Artist Network (DVAN), they have contributed to a body of work that gives voice to the immigrant experience in the Bay Area and beyond. Their personal narratives are in dialogue with the current special exhibition at the Tenderloin Museum, Voice of the Central City: The Tenderloin Times, 1977-94, which explores the history and impact of the Pulitzer Prize nominated, polyglot Tenderloin community newspaper.

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February 25, 2018
The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot
Feb 22
February 22, 2018 – May 5, 2018
The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot
February 22, 2018 – May 5, 2018

You are invited to the WORLD PREMIERE of The Compton's Cafeteria Riot, a new play written by Collette LeGrande, Mark Nassar,
& Donna Personna
directed by AeJay Mitchell
conceived by Mark Nassar & Katie Conry

Performances at 7:30 pm.
Initial run February 22 - March 17, 2018 - SOLD OUT

Extended with select dates through May 5, 2018 - SOLD OUT

Please sign up HERE to keep informed about possible future dates.

Thank you for your interest!

New Village Cafe
1426 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA 94109

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February 22, 2018 – May 5, 2018
Drag It Out in the Open: Compton's Queens at UN Plaza
Feb 21
February 21, 2018
Drag It Out in the Open: Compton's Queens at UN Plaza
February 21, 2018

The world premiere of The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot is upon us! In celebration of the opening night, come see the queens behind play give a rare, high-noon show at UN Plaza during the Heart of the City Farmers’ Market. Don’t miss this chance to see our stars shine in front of the beautiful and iconic San Francisco City Hall--both cast members and co-creators of this historic production will be performing from 12pm to 1pm on Wednesday, February 21st. Meet the cast and buy your tickets to The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot with a side of fresh, local fruits and veggies. See you there!

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February 21, 2018
Drag Queen Bingo Fundraiser
Feb 16
February 16, 2018
Drag Queen Bingo Fundraiser
February 16, 2018

In anticipation of The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, the Tenderloin Museum’s first ever theater production, we’re hosting an after-hours Drag Queen Bingo Party! Come down to 398 Eddy Street for drinks and good cheer, but bring your own luck. Prizes abound, from the luxurious (a two night stay at the Phoenix Hotel!) to the whimsical (kitty play time at KitTea). Others will turn this night out into another, like tickets to the Color Factory or film passes to the beloved Roxie Theater. The competition won’t be the only thing that’s fierce. The incomparable drag artist and activist Cruzin D’Loo will be mistress of ceremonies, presiding over the bingo balls and calling out those lucky numbers.

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February 16, 2018
Color Is Pure Feeling: Paintings by Dennis Conkin, Opening Reception
Feb 1
February 1, 2018
Color Is Pure Feeling: Paintings by Dennis Conkin, Opening Reception
February 1, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum is pleased to present a collection of new work by painter Dennis Conkin. The eight abstract canvases on display are the fruits of his largely self-taught painting practice, developed over three decades living in the heart of the Tenderloin, and communicate the artist’s emotional relationships with color. Conkin is well known in the neighborhood for his work as a community activist and as a reporter for The Tenderloin Times, focusing on issues of homelessness, AIDS, and mental disability when few would. As such, his non-representational paintings strike an intriguing counterpoint to the linear, narrative nature of chronicling the news. “Art is the story of humanity’s quest for love and awareness, for insight and understanding about our lives,” Conkin told the Tenderloin Museum. “Art is also ecstatic celebration, belonging to no one, and, fundamentally, art saves lives.” Join us for the opening reception of Color Is Pure Feeling on Thursday, February 1st.

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February 1, 2018
Member Appreciation Party
Jan 25
January 25, 2018
Member Appreciation Party
January 25, 2018
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January 25, 2018
Tenderloin Museum Annual Volunteer Fair 2018
Jan 23
January 23, 2018
Tenderloin Museum Annual Volunteer Fair 2018
January 23, 2018

The Tenderloin Museum is thrilled to announce its annual Volunteer Fair will take place on Tuesday, January 23rd. This is an excellent opportunity to meet and connect with representatives from several of the Tenderloin’s vital service nonprofits. Learn about the many ways one can serve those in need and build meaningful community in the heart of San Francisco. This gathering is intended to be inclusive and engaging for first time volunteers and seasoned civil servants, so please come join the conversation about involvement and impact. 

The Volunteer Fair begins with an opening reception at 6:30 pm, followed by short presentations at 7 pm from over a half dozen local organizations. Participants include Glide, 826 Valencia, Larkin St. Youth, Coalition for the Homeless, Code Tenderloin, Project Open Hand, the St. Anthony Foundation, Skywatchers, and more. More detailed information on each group is included below. 

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January 23, 2018
Alhambra S.R.O. Walking Tour & Artist Talk with Paz de la Calzada
Jan 18
January 18, 2018
Alhambra S.R.O. Walking Tour & Artist Talk with Paz de la Calzada
January 18, 2018

In collaboration with the Tenderloin Museum,Ramon’s Tailor Gallery presents a neighborhood Walking Tour & Artist Talk, inspired by the current art installation at Ramon’s Tailor by Paz de la Calzada, entitled Alhambra S.R.O. This one-night only event is an exciting exploration of the intersection of art, architecture, history, and diaspora.

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January 18, 2018
2019 Programs
2017 Programs
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