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San Francisco's Dutch Orange Party Proves Not Every Block Party Needs a City Grant
PublishedSometimes the best events in San Francisco are the ones that don't cost taxpayers a dime and don't require three city…
Dollar Drinks and Decade Wars: North Beach's Cheapest Night Out
PublishedIn a city where a single cocktail can run you $18 before tip, someone in North Beach has apparently decided to wage war…
Cookbook Week Brings Literary Foodies to the Presidio — And We're Not Mad About It
PublishedIn a city where $18 toast is considered a cultural institution, it makes perfect sense that San Francisco would host an…
22 Art Exhibits, One Night, Zero Excuses: The Castro Art Walk Returns May 1st
PublishedHere's something San Francisco gets unambiguously right: the monthly Castro Art Walk.
Doom & Bloom Brings Live Podcast Magic to SF — Here's What You Need to Know
PublishedIf you've been looking for something to do in San Francisco that doesn't involve a $22 cocktail or standing in line for…
Finally, an SF Event That Doesn't Involve a $25 Matcha or a City Budget Crisis
PublishedLook, we spend most of our time here at The Dissent writing about runaway budgets, transit meltdowns, and the latest…
Flying Solo This Weekend? Here's Your No-Excuses SF Game Plan
PublishedWe've all been there. Friday rolls around, your group chat is full of "sorry, can't make it" messages, and suddenly…
Free Boba and Feelings: SF's Climate Event Scene Wants Your Attention
PublishedSan Francisco's climate activism calendar is heating up — pun very much intended — with a couple of upcoming events…
100+ Free Dance Events Are Taking Over the Bay Area — Yes, Actually Free
PublishedIn a city where a single cocktail can run you $22 and a studio fitness class will set you back $40, here's something…
Someone Actually Did Something Delightful at the Ferry Building and We're Here for It
PublishedIn a city where most public events involve either a permit nightmare, a six-figure taxpayer tab, or both, someone just…
Your Weekend Is Stacked: Dahlias, Open Studios, and More Reasons to Stay in the City
PublishedLook, we know the temptation. It's a gorgeous week, and some part of your brain is whispering road trip to Monterey or…
SOMA Nights Block Party Returns: A Night Market Worth Actually Leaving Your Apartment For
PublishedSOMA is getting a block party and night market, and honestly?
Another Weekend, Another Party Marketed as a 'Cultural Event'
PublishedThe 2026 Dyevesment Bash is rolling into San Francisco promising music, drinks, and drag performances — because…
Sip, Stroll, and Actually Enjoy Your Neighborhood: Noe Valley's Spring Wine Walk Returns
PublishedThere's something refreshing about a community event that doesn't require a government grant, a task force, or a…
Free Beer Trivia Every Wednesday? Black Hammer Says Hold My Pint Glass
PublishedLook, we spend a lot of time around here talking about the ways San Francisco nickel-and-dimes its residents — parking…
Your Tax Dollars Already Paid for It: Free Chess and Poetry at SF Libraries This Week
PublishedHere's a radical concept: the government spending your money on something you can actually use and enjoy.
UC Berkeley Celebrates Earth Day the Old-Fashioned Way: Outside
PublishedIn a world where "raising awareness" usually means a hashtag and a virtue-signaling Instagram story, UC Berkeley is…
Your Weekend in SF: Dogs, Dodgers, and One Last Chance to Catch Bottom of the Hill
PublishedSan Francisco is doing that thing again where it throws a dozen incredible events at you on the same weekend and forces…
Free Nature Stencil Art Workshop: Your Tax Dollars Didn't Pay for This One
PublishedHere's something we don't get to say often enough: a free community event that doesn't come with a side of government…
Free Weekly Wellness Circle for Black Moms Launches in SF
PublishedHere's something we can get behind without any caveats about taxpayer dollars or city hall bloat: a free…
Free Line Dancing in SF: Fun That Won't Cost You a Dime (A Rarity in This City)
PublishedIn a city where a mediocre burrito runs you $16 and a one-bedroom apartment costs more than a mortgage payment in most…
Climate Week Hits SF: Art Shows and Buzzwords at the Mills Building
PublishedSan Francisco's Climate Week is upon us, and with it comes a familiar lineup: art exhibitions with elemental titles and…
Free Lunch (Concerts) Actually Exist: Civic Center Soundtrack Returns
PublishedHere's something city government rarely delivers: a genuinely good deal for taxpayers and residents alike.
Cherry Blossom Festival Returns to Japantown — And This Year They've Got Jokes
PublishedSan Francisco's Cherry Blossom Festival is back in Japantown for 2026, and this year the annual celebration is leveling…