This week’s Field Notes: Local staycation ideas, mahjong nights in a historic church, Black Oakland’s future at OMCA, indie musicians reviving Contra Costa, and SF’s new Disability Cultural Center. Plus, the Tenderloin Museum turns 10, a youth poetry call, and an East Bay trail to explore.
Tourist for the weekend
Why fight traffic out of town when you could ride a cable car to dinner instead? This local staycation guide suggests leaning into San Francisco’s charm with an overnight at the Beacon Grand, dumplings at House of Nanking, oysters and negronis at Hog Island, vinyl hunting at Tunnel Records, and a sunset cocktail at Charmaine’s. — Eater SF
Reclaiming the future: Black spaces at OMCA
A new exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California explores Black life in the East Bay through past, present, and future. Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain features archival photos, personal artifacts, and visionary installations from architect June Grant, artist Adrian Burrell, and community groups like Moms 4 Housing.
Through stories of displacement and resilience — from Russell City to West Oakland, the exhibition contemplates what Black Oakland could look like in the year 3000. On view through March 1, 2026. — Oaklandside
Calling all young poets
Applications are now open for San Francisco’s newly relaunched Youth Poet Laureate program. Local teens ages 13–19 can apply to join a cohort of rising literary voices, with regular workshops led by 826 Valencia and Youth Speaks, performance opportunities, and a $700 scholarship.
Two students will be named Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Laureate, serving as cultural ambassadors alongside the City’s Poet Laureate and Drag Laureate. The deadline to apply is August 9. — SF Public Library
Skywatchers bring art, power, and protest to the Tenderloin
Skywatchers, a collective of Tenderloin-based artists uses movement, music, and sculpture to share stories of survival, ancestry, and resistance.
Their performances, often staged in parks and alleyways, challenge systemic neglect while cultivating joy, solidarity, and visibility in a neighborhood too often ignored. — Mission Local
Showering SF streets with spontaneous kindness
On July 31, a crew of “kindness ambassadors” will roam the streets of San Francisco handing out flowers, singing songs, sharing art, and offering spontaneous moments of support — from compliments and notes to real-time help.
The grassroots event invites anyone to join. Learn more or sign up to participate. — Kindness Crawl
Tiles, talks & tradition: Mahjong Night at Saint Joseph’s
Mahjong Night happens monthly at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society, a creative hub inside a beautifully restored historic church in San Francisco’s South of Market district. July’s event will feature founder of The Mahjong Project and author Nicole Wong.
Beginners can sign up for guided instruction (limited spots). Beer and wine available. Signed copies of Nicole’s book Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora will be on sale. — The Third Place
Exploring the East Bay Skyline Trail
The East Bay Skyline Trail stretches nearly 33 miles from Richmond to Castro Valley, offering sweeping Bay views, volcanic landscapes, redwood groves, and rolling hills. While some tackle the full route in a day, most break it into seven scenic segments to savor the sights without wearing themselves out.
Highlights include wildflower-covered ridges at Wildcat Canyon, panoramic vistas from Inspiration Point, volcanic remnants at Sibley Preserve, and cool redwood forests near MacDonald Gate. Wildlife sightings might include coyotes, hawks, and wild turkeys. — Bay Area News Group
San Francisco’s new Disability Cultural Center opens
San Francisco’s first Disability Cultural Center officially opened on Thursday, offering a unique public space dedicated to rest, community, and celebration of disability culture. Located across from City Hall, the center hosts accessible movement classes, poetry workshops, support groups, and hybrid events that combine in-person and livestream participation.
Designed with thoughtful amenities like weighted blankets, accessible seating, and open-air patios, the center aims to be a restorative haven for disabled people facing daily ableism and barriers.
Co-founder Emily Beitiks emphasizes the center’s goal to reshape how disability is understood through arts and connection, providing a restorative space where disabled people can thrive and organize. — KQED
Indie musicians find a home in Crockett and Port Costa
Out along the Carquinez Strait, Contra Costa’s rusty industrial towns are quietly becoming a haven for Bay Area indie musicians. With venues like Toot’s Tavern, studios like Bubudzuki, and throwback vibes from co-mayor-cowboy Mitch Polzak, the scene here mixes old-school charm with a refreshingly DIY spirit.
More than just nostalgia — they're building something new where artists can afford to create, perform, and actually be heard. — 7x7
Tenderloin Museum marks 10 years of telling its own story
Ten years ago, people scoffed when Randy Shaw proposed a museum about San Francisco’s Tenderloin — “What are you making a museum about, drug use and prostitution?” But today, the Tenderloin Museum is a vital cultural hub and neighborhood beacon.
Under Executive Director Katie Conry, it has become known for immersive events like a reenactment of the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, a growing neon sign district, and programming that spotlights local artists, musicians, and activists.
The museum just celebrated its anniversary with a jazz concert at the Great American Music Hall and will soon break ground on an expansion that triples its size and adds exhibits on Indian American migration and neon art.
In a neighborhood that’s too often reduced to headlines, the museum continues to amplify stories of community, resilience, and joy. — NBC Bay Area
Top Image: Kenny Playing Sax at the De Luxe Inn in Oakland, 1983; Michelle Vignes, Collection of the Oakland Museum of California, Dorothea Lange Award
Previously: Field Notes: Valkyries Podcast, Audium’s 50th Anniversary, Hidden Alcatraz, and Bandaloop
