DEMOCRACY NOIR- A New Dawn

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By Connie Field                 (September 13, 2026)

In April, I watched Viktor Orbán ousted in Hungary by a landslide. I was amazed and ecstatic. This was personal for me. I had traveled there with my Hungarian husband every year since 1990. Over three decades we watched the country change through the eyes of people we loved — through the euphoria of the early post-Communist years and, eventually, through its disturbing turn to autocracy. We watched avidly last year as Péter Magyar, the man who would go on to oust Orbán, traveled all around Hungary drawing bigger and bigger crowds. But I always assumed Orbán would find a way to change the election laws yet again so he’d win no matter how strong the opposition was. He didn’t. Magyar won by a landslide. Continue reading →

Bonnie & Clyde Killed People- An new book excerpt about the making of the film

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On May 23, 1934, two borderline inept but ruthless criminals named Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker met their end in a hail of semiautomatic gunfire on a rural road in the Louisiana backcountry. The duo had terrorized Depression-era Middle America with a string of robberies and a brazen daylight prison escape, killing nearly a dozen police officers along the way.

A legend was born.

Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie and Clyde” will have as rare theatrical showing on Monday, August 17 at the Lark Theater near San Francisco.

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Christiane Lyons Finds Deep Meaning in the Exhibition “Superficial Matters”

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By Noma Faingold       (August 14, 2026)

Mill Valley painter Christiane Lyons has dedicated the last 10 years to her series, which she somewhat facetiously calls, “Some Women: A Total Portrait With No Omissions.” The oil paintings are collage-like, yet more refined. There’s also a double or triple-exposure effect in the depiction of the women. The work is figurative, abstract and surreal. It’s easy to be drawn to the colorful, layered pieces. There’s a soft beauty to them. But a closer, more pensive examination reveals an indictment on the objectification of women in history and in current times.

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“Treasure of the Pharaohs” Exhibition Digs into Egyptian Life and Afterlife

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By Noma Faingold.      (August 2, 2026)

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is counting on the public’s continuous fascination of ancient Egypt when FAMSF presents, “Treasures of the Pharaohs,” from August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, at the de Young Museum. The touring exhibition spans 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, showing how the all-powerful pharaohs shaped religious practices, social structure and daily life. Continue reading →

The Magic of “Like Water for Chocolate”

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“For film buffs and literature lovers alike, Turner Classic Movies presents an essential guide to 40 cinematic classics and the enduring love stories that have served as their heart-tugging inspiration.

What makes a good love story endure? Is it the courtship? The obstacles along the way? The happy endings (or in some cases, heartbreaking conclusions)? Author Kristen Lopez explores 40 beloved screen adaptations of the book world’s great romances to reveal what makes these works resonate across decades. Continue reading →

East Bay Singer Destani Wolf is All About Connection

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By Noma Faingold                                 (updated August 11, 2026)

Singer/songwriter Destani Wolf doesn’t sound like anyone else and that suits her just fine.

The vocals of 45-year-old resident of Kensington (just north of Berkeley) are as smooth as charmeuse, confidently improvisational and seemingly effortless, although her perfectionism leads to a lot of tinkering with songs before Wolf is willing to put them out into the world.

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Margaret Cho: The Outsider Comedian Who Found a Way In

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            “Choligarchy” returns to the Bay Area for a limited engagement, September 15-19, at Berkeley Rep.  Tickets are on sale now here. 

Photo by Albert Sanchez

By Noma Faingold.                                               

 (Updated August 6, 2026) 

Trailblazing comedian Margaret Cho has always made sure her brazen stand-up material aligns with her feminist, politically progressive and all-inclusive views on sexuality. What is radically different about the 57-year-old San Francisco native is that her once chaotic, dangerous life has gradually evolved into a that of a serene homebody, who surrounds herself with animal and plant life.

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You Don’t Have To Be………Jewish

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By Gary Meyer.  (updated August 1 ,2026)

Family dramas, Amazing Sea Monkeys, Hollywood censorship, Woody Guthrie, the Middle East conflicts, Berlin’s nightlife, uncomfortable secrets, teenage angst, many kinds of music, short films, Holocaust stories we never knew, New Yorker cartoonists, LBGTQ lives, inside the most famous Catskills summer resort, and family comedies.

These are some of the stories at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival playing through Sunday, August 2. Continue reading →

Weaving Past and Present Together in “Nenge Omuko: The Gathering”

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By Noma Faingold.                            (July 10, 2026)

You can’t separate the art from the artist. With Nigerian painter and humanitarian Nengi Omuko, that’s a really good thing, as opposed to infamous misogynist Pablo Picasso, pedophile and bigamist Paul Gauguin and murderous pimp Caravaggio (born Michelangelo Merisi).

The Impressionist paintings of up-and-coming Omuko, 39, embrace heritage, revere nature, while grappling with the human condition, in all its struggles and triumphs.

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The New Cocktail Hour Recipes

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(June 18, 2026)

The essential cocktail guide from Booze & Vinyl authors André and Tenaya Darlington—now brought up to date with fresh flavors and techniques, 32 new recipes for modern tastes including mocktail and low ABV options, and more to help at-home drinks makers and professionals alike master the art of the cocktail.

EatDrinkFilms brings you the introduction to the new edition and two great cocktails to try. Continue reading →

Captivating Picks from Eclectic Lineup at the Frameline50 Film Festival

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By Noma Faingold                                     (June 13, 2026)

Frameline50, the annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, June 17-27. The milestone is a big deal for the largest and longest-running queer film festival in the world. Several San Francisco and East Bay venues, including the newly restored Castro Theater, will host 140 films from 35 countries with LGBTQ+ themes by mostly queer filmmakers. Programming for the 11-day event also includes parties, networking events and industry panels.

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