Workshops and classes in the Bay Area

A 2-day hands-on workshop for farmers with 2–4 years of tractor operating experience. Participants learn to operate tractors more efficiently and safely, covering tractor setup, implement attachment, equipment calibration, field operation, and maintenance. The program emphasizes real field demonstrations and practical problem-solving based on everyday farming situations. By the end, participants should operate tractors more efficiently, make better field decisions, and maximize machinery performance. Cost includes food, overnight accommodation in tent cabins, and parking; scholarships available.

A workshop on Catholic social teaching and artificial intelligence, exploring how the Church's tradition of humanistic philosophy engages with AI ethics and technology. Part of the Markey Center's monthly Faith Meets World series, this session includes interactive discussion and reflection opportunities for all participants.

A guided walk and talk led by Kristina Parkison exploring Ohlone plant uses and cultural objects that sustain the Ohlone people's deep connection to the land they have stewarded since time immemorial. The program centers both historical and contemporary Ohlone practices. Ages 8 and up; adult participation required. Bring water, hat, layers, and sturdy shoes.

A weekend hackathon tackling real-world challenges in climate, mental health, justice reform, and art & design in partnership with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and four Bay Area nonprofits. Developers and non-technical innovators form teams to build solutions including a satellite-based land-planning game for community engagement, mental health support tools for formerly incarcerated people, impact-tracking systems for rehabilitation programs, and scalable design-justice practices. Past winners have presented at UN conferences and launched YC-backed startups. $5,000 in total prizes. Hosted by Value Economy Network.

A full-day experiential workshop with Liz Koch exploring primal gestures and spinal awareness through movement practice. Drawing on embryological and somatic paradigms, participants will engage in 6 hours of guided movement (10am–1pm and 2–4pm, with a one-hour lunch break) designed to stimulate neuroplasticity, reduce stress, and awaken creativity. Koch, an internationally recognized somatic educator and author with 45+ years of expertise in psoas and core awareness, frames the spine as the nexus of embodied being and explores how micro-undulations and spirals in tissue reflect planetary rhythms. A Friday evening lecture by Koch is available as a separate ticketed event.

A four-week seminar exploring Dante's *Inferno* as both a masterwork of Western literature and a profound meditation on human striving and justice that resonates in our own historical moment. Led by Timothy Hampton, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature at UC Berkeley, the course will read the poem slowly, unpacking its mysteries, medieval philosophical context, and enduring relevance. Open discussion follows each session. Meets Thursdays, October 10, 17, 24, 31, 11 am–1 pm.

Learn to write effective prompts for AI image generation in this hands-on workshop. AI expert Bridget Burke teaches visual basics, style selection, and prompt-writing techniques to help you create clearer, more accurate results with tools like DALL-E and Midjourney. Explore how to describe layout, mood, and visual style; compare simple versus detailed prompts; and learn what to check before sharing or printing. No art, design, or technical skills required—just curiosity and imagination. This is Class 1 of a 3-part series.

Two hands-on artmaking workshops led by Osher Fellows in the East Garden. 'Marigold and Frames: Make a Frame, Hold a Memory' with Dev Heyrana explores memory and craft, while 'Día de los Muertos: Claude Forever' with Josué Rojas engages the Day of the Dead tradition. All ages welcome, no experience necessary.

Build and take home a custom LED art panel in this hands-on workshop inspired by San Francisco artist Jim Campbell's work. Learn soldering, microcontroller programming with the ESP32, and upload your own images, GIFs, and light patterns to a 32x32 LED matrix display. No experience needed. All proceeds support TIAT's ongoing workshops and teaching community.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History hosts an annual Día de los Muertos Celebration honoring Latino cultural heritage. The day features musical and dance performances by Senderos, hands-on activities, live music, and community-created altares (ofrendas). Attendees can explore the museum's installations and learn about the holiday's significance from community partners and Senderos leaders, hearing stories of how Día de los Muertos is celebrated locally.

An interactive afternoon summit centered on youth voice and civic engagement for children and families. Participants will engage with hands-on stations in art, music, writing, and voting, with inspiring youth speakers, movement breaks, and a quiet room for reading and regrouping. Hosted at Santa Clara University.

A hands-on workshop with award-winning author and non-financial retirement coach Larry Jacobson on designing a retirement centered on meaning and fulfillment. Jacobson, a sought-after speaker and circumnavigator, works with participants to develop a purposeful next chapter beyond financial planning.

Join Kepler's Community Reads program for an interactive event centered on *Her Right Foot*, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris's illustrated exploration of America's identity, borders, immigration, and Lady Liberty's meaning. The afternoon features a collage workshop led by illustrator Shawn Harris (2:00–2:45 PM, all ages welcome) followed by an open community discussion (3:00 PM) about the book's themes of resistance, oppression, and American ideals as the nation marks its 250th anniversary.

A hands-on workshop at Mill Valley Public Library where adults learn needle felting techniques for mending knitwear. Bring a worn hat or sweater, or practice on provided scraps. Limited registration required.

A hands-on poetry translation workshop where participants aged 12–18 (all ages welcome) unlock creativity by translating poems from around the world. Guided by 2025–2027 Poetry Inside Out Teaching Fellows and local translators, attendees work with glossaries and collaborate to dismantle and reassemble poems in new languages. No prior poetry or language skills required. The workshop celebrates translation's multiple possibilities, encouraging participants to share and defend their language choices, followed by spontaneous performance by youth writers.

As solar, wind, and battery storage displace conventional generators, the grid loses the stabilizing inertia that once came free from spinning mass. This interactive session explores how inverter-based resources can help maintain grid stability, what their limits are, and how reactive power support fits into the picture. Stanford IEEE's Power & Energy Society will walk through real-world grid events and their lessons, with live demos and open discussion. No power systems background required; open to all majors.

An immersive workshop exploring the esoteric meanings within the poetry of Indian mystic saints—Kabir and Guru Nanak—through indigenous folk songs of the Malwa region. Priyal Maheshwari, a musician and yoga teacher, guides participants by singing and interpreting these 600-year-old oral-tradition songs while accompanying himself on tambura and kartaal. The workshop alternates between song, storytelling about Kabir's life and India's oral traditions, collective reflection, and shared silence. Printed translations enable participants to follow along and join the singing. A contemplative experience designed to deepen self-discovery and a sense of connection.

A full-day family event exploring AI's impact on child development, education, and human connection. The program features research presentations and founder conversations on how generative AI is reshaping childhood learning; panels on skills children need for an AI-driven world; workshops including a philosophy discussion ('Can a robot be a friend?') led by The Paradox Lab; an exhibition on brain development co-created with illustrator Linda Liukas; and a startup showcase where families can try emerging AI products for children. Speakers and workshop leaders include researchers, educators, and builders from leading institutions and startups.

A workshop for aspiring authors seeking to improve their chances of publication with a literary agent or publisher. John Geoghegan, a publishing professional, guides participants through manuscript preparation, agent query strategy, and the submission process for memoirs, novels, and nonfiction works. Hands-on and Q&A focused.

Learn to create a dried floral and succulent pumpkin centerpiece in this hands-on workshop led by instructor Amber Pearsall. You'll work with a selection of dried and fresh materials—some grown at the UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden—to design your own artistic creation, guided by examples and encouragement to develop your personal style. The finished pumpkin will last well into the new year with proper care.

A live demonstration of how used cooking oil is transformed into soap through circular economy principles. Attendees will watch the soap-making process in action, learn about the environmental impact of cooking oil waste, explore the science behind the transformation, and discover ways to support sustainable solutions from everyday materials. The session explores both the practical methodology and the broader concept of converting waste into useful products.

Meet tarantulas in their natural habitat as summer turns to fall. Led by naturalist Alex Collins, this hands-on program explores why these arachnids emerge during mating season and offers a chance to observe them up close. Drop-in, no registration required; adult participation needed.

Rite Life is a workshop blending automatic writing with ancestor veneration practices, designed to confront difficult emotions and celebrate what sustains us. Facilitated by Gabe alongside local writers and spiritual practitioners, the workshop carries forward the vision of poet and spiritual teacher Honeysun, who conceived it in 2016. Participants of all ages engage in guided writing and reflective practice in the museum's cemetery setting. All ages welcome.

A workshop on Jungian dreamwork exploring how dreams provide access to the unconscious and support psychological growth and individuation. Alyssa Polizzi, a Jungian scholar and founder of The Artemisian educational platform, guides participants through the foundations of dream interpretation, common archetypal motifs, and a practical four-step method for analyzing dream symbols. Attendees are invited to bring a dream or striking dream image to explore in class.

A writing workshop on Filipina/x poetry and poetics hosted by Barbara Jane Reyes, Bay Area author and educator. Participants will read and discuss poems by Filipina/x poets from the Philippines and diaspora, examining language, form, and themes of power, patriarchy, and subversion. The workshop concludes with participants writing their own poems. Reyes has published six books including Gravities of Center, Diwata, and Letters to a Young Brown Girl, with Daughtersong Diaspore forthcoming from Black Lawrence Press in 2027.

A workshop exploring Catholic Social Teaching as a living tradition of shared discernment on justice and human dignity. Fr. William O'Neill, a Jesuit scholar and resident at Santa Clara University's Markkula Center, draws on his work in refugee camps across Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan to address how we embody CST's vision today—encompassing human rights, ecological ethics, immigration policy, and restorative justice. The session includes structured conversation and reflection, open to Christians and non-Christians alike.

A hands-on ceramics workshop where participants hand-build a personalized set of Shabbat candlesticks. Learn fundamentals of hand-building, shape and refine your pieces, choose from three glaze options, and the venue will fire them for pickup later in the week. No prior ceramics experience needed; ages 14 and up welcome.

A hands-on introductory workshop on Mac computers and Apple services, led by Jon Hartman of Option-Click Consulting. Part of a series covering Macs, iPhones, and Apple ecosystem basics for beginners.

A hands-on tutorial on compiling and debugging code on WAVE, Santa Clara University's High Performance Computing Center. The session opens with an informational presentation from WAVE support staff, followed by supervised practice time and direct Q&A with the technical team. Bring a laptop to access WAVE during the workshop.

Learn plant terminology and identification techniques in a hands-on, informal workshop led by Lucy Ferneyhough, assistant director of the UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Participants are encouraged to bring plants to examine together and suggest topics for future sessions. Sessions held the 4th Monday of each month, 5:30–7:30pm at the Horticulture 2 meeting hall.

A hands-on workshop on designing AI-integrated assignments that promote critical thinking, reflection, and deeper learning. Participants will redesign one of their own assignments and leave with a ready-to-use version. Led by Wendy Lee, Associate Professor in the College of Science at San Jose State University.

A workshop on building scalable go-to-market systems for AI-native companies. Participants will learn why speed without a GTM operating system creates fragility, and what it takes to build systems that are fast, repeatable, and built to scale. Led by Lydia Flocchini and Tim Hillison—both 3x CMOs, GTM Partners Certified Partners, and repeat operators with a track record of nine successful builds across startups, scaleups, and Fortune 500 companies. Attendees will leave with a clear GTM operating system framework, a maturity assessment of their current GTM journey, and real examples from data to agentic GTM. A One Way Summit 2026 Official Side Event.

A hands-on workshop on physical AI for engineers and developers, exploring how artificial intelligence applies to robotics and embodied systems. Hosted by Nebius and Voxel51 at Silicon Valley AI Hub.

A 3-part prompt-based storytelling workshop for adults and older adults led by Stagebridge, the nation's oldest performing arts organization for seniors. Participants can join a single session, multiple classes, or the entire series. Registration required by calling Montclair Branch at (510) 482-7810.

A four-session immersive workshop with Silvia Nakkach, Grammy-nominated composer and sound shaman, exploring sound as a living cosmic force. Participants will learn to improvise medicine melodies—spontaneous transmissions from nature and the spirit world—drawing on practices from Peruvian Amazon icaros, Afro-Brazilian invocations, Indian ragas, and healing invocations. The workshop cultivates deep listening, tonal centering, and vocal freedom as forms of spiritual attunement and musical divination. No singing experience required; open to anyone willing to listen, feel, and explore the sacred intelligence of the voice.

A monthly somatic practice lab led by ICF-certified coach Annalisa Jackson for women working on how they show up in romantic connection. Through embodied practices, reflection, and small-group sharing, participants learn to rewire reactive patterns in love and connection — moving from intellectual understanding of attachment styles to felt, nervous-system-based change. This month's focus: finding groundedness when uncertainty activates your body in romantic situations. No prior experience needed; each session stands alone.

A hands-on printing workshop celebrating Halloween at UC Santa Cruz's Special Collections and Archives. Attendees can print their own designs on the BookBeetle, a replica Gutenberg-era common press, while exploring a curated display of Halloween-themed archival materials including movable books and historical documents. Open to all.

Lesley Currier of Shakespeare for Social Justice discusses the organization's work bringing Shakespeare courses and performing arts programs to fourteen California state prisons and rehabilitation centers since 2003. Participants will explore the crisis of mass incarceration in California and the U.S., and engage in creative exercises demonstrating theater's capacity to build empathy, foster connection, and transform lives. The event combines lecture with interactive workshop components.

A hands-on build night focused on developing open-source alternatives to paid creative tools using ComfyUI. Participants will collaborate on projects competing for a $10K grand prize. Hosted at Frontier Tower.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos through Ecuadorian traditions with Chef Pastora. Learn about and taste colada morada, a traditional drink prepared for this season, as the chef explains its ingredients, preparation, and cultural significance. Participate in an interactive activity decorating guaguas de pan, the sweet bread traditionally enjoyed alongside the drink. A hands-on, family-friendly program blending food education with cultural celebration.

Build your own AI agents for real estate workflows — transaction coordination, acquisitions, property search, and construction — using Genspark's AI workspace. Led by Corey Griffin, a real estate business owner who has deployed 10 agents for his own company, this hands-on session walks you through setting up agents that plan, research, and execute work autonomously. No experience needed; bring your laptop and a free Genspark account (created before arrival). Designed for realtors, investors, contractors, title professionals, and business owners curious about AI agent capabilities.

A hands-on workshop featuring real robotics demonstrations and practical AI applications, hosted by Nebius and Voxel51. Attendees will engage directly with physical AI systems and explore how machine learning integrates with robotics hardware.

A hands-on workshop on running AI models locally on your own computer. Participants will learn how to deploy and manage AI systems independently, without relying on cloud services or external platforms. Ideal for anyone interested in AI infrastructure, self-hosting, and practical machine learning applications.

A hands-on workshop in microfluidic cell-free manufacturing—a technique for producing proteins and biologics outside living cells. Participants will work with microfluidic systems to understand the principles and applications of cell-free protein synthesis, a growing field in synthetic biology and biotech manufacturing.

A hands-on workshop exploring how multiplayer AI can streamline product development workflows—from backlog to spec to implementation to team review. Participants will learn how to turn tickets into shareable specs, work with AI bots to build features, and capture team decisions for future context. Led by Anuhrut Gupta, Product & Applied AI Lead at PromptQL. Bring your laptop and a backlog item (sample data or authorized materials welcome). Dinner and non-alcoholic drinks provided.

Explore how to have more productive conversations with AI tools by treating them as thought partners rather than vending machines. Facilitated by Chris Heuer, IBM futurist and author of *Conversations With My AI*, this workshop introduces a seven-part conversation framework, then guides participants through a real practice session with their own AI on something they're actually working on. You'll learn to ask better questions, provide necessary context, and leverage AI to think more clearly without outsourcing your own judgment. Bring a laptop or phone with access to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar, and one real problem or creative project you're stuck on.

A somatic healing workshop led by certified coach Anna Bolender using guided grounding exercises, breathwork, body awareness practices, and gentle movement to help participants shift out of overthinking and reconnect with their body's wisdom. The session explores how stress and survival patterns keep us stuck in our heads, the connection between body and intuition, and provides practical tools for managing overwhelm and building self-trust through nervous system regulation techniques.

A four-week workshop led by Jenny Jedeikin, a former Rolling Stone journalist, humor writer, and comic strip artist, teaching students how to produce their own personal narrative graphic stories. Participants will learn techniques for translating life experiences into sequential art across four Thursday sessions.

A structured decision-making workshop for middle managers through senior leaders who find themselves as organizational bottlenecks. Participants learn a repeatable process for delegating decisions to their teams, working through a real decision from their own work in pairs and individually. The session covers reorgs, tool adoption, AI rollouts, and shifting priorities — leaving attendees with a one-page process they can hand to their team immediately. Led by The Commons SF.

A weekend hackathon exploring whether formal methods are ready for production software. Participants will build a piece of production software and formally verify it, working hands-on to test the practical applicability of formal verification techniques in real-world development.

Drop-in mask-making workshop at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Decorate your own mask inspired by the museum's animal exhibits or create something supernatural for Halloween. All ages welcome.

A one-day grammar and prose workshop led by Constance Hale, author of the bestselling *Sin and Syntax: How to Write Wicked Good Prose*. Through hilarious exercises and writing prompts, Hale guides writers of all genres through sentence dynamics, punctuation, voice, and common grammatical pitfalls—using her books *Sin and Syntax* and *Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch* as texts. Participants will master subject-predicate structure, conquer the semicolon, avoid dangling participles, and explore how grammar shapes point of view and authorial voice. A former editor at Wired, Health, and the San Francisco Examiner, Hale has taught creative nonfiction at Harvard and UC Berkeley and published in *The Atlantic*, *The New York Times*, and *Smithsonian*. Six hours, includes bagels and a free book.

A four-week workshop exploring how descriptive writing in memoir reveals character and truth. Led by Connie Josefs, this course examines how sensory detail, imagery, and the craft of description transform personal narrative into compelling storytelling. Participants will study published memoir excerpts, practice descriptive techniques, and develop their own writing. Held at Book Passage Corte Madera, Saturdays October 31–November 21, 2026.

A guided nature walk and craft activity exploring plant galls—the bizarre growths created by insects, mites, and other organisms on plants. Led by Martha Cerda, this program combines botanical inquiry with creative play: after learning about gall ecology during a short forest walk, participants design and wear their own gall-inspired costume accessories, then parade them along the trail. All ages welcome; parent participation required. Drop-in, no registration needed.

A hands-on workshop on using AI to transform information into clear visual formats. Bridget Burke, an AI expert with 30+ years in technology, teaches practical methods for creating charts, diagrams, timelines, roadmaps, and planning tools that make complex information easier to understand and communicate. Participants will create real-world examples, experiment with prompts, and learn to verify accuracy in numbers and relationships. Part 2 of a 3-class series. Free at Mill Valley Public Library.

A guided birdwatching walk exploring migratory and resident waterbirds at Crab Cove, led by naturalist Kevin Dixon. Participants will learn how local birds—from plovers to herons—are adapted to Bay habitats and seasonal food sources. Binoculars provided; beginners welcome. Ages 6+.

A grief tending circle led by Shannon Knorr and Petra Gojun, designed as a container to honor and metabolize grief through somatic exploration, movement, dream tending, and creative art-making. Participants will engage in altar building, writing, and ritual to hold personal and collective grief — including grief from loss, life transitions, chronic illness, identity shifts, and systemic crises. This is not talk therapy but rather an earthy, concrete practice space welcoming all types of grievers. Bring a journal, writing materials, and comfortable clothing for movement; art supplies and yoga props provided.

Celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights marking the beginning of the new year in the Indian lunar calendar, with a full day of art activities, talks, tastings, and performances. Drop-in rangoli-making and henna-art workshops run 1–4 PM and are appropriate for all ages. Observed by millions across India and its diaspora, including Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide, Diwali is a jubilant holiday rich in cultural tradition and artistic expression.

Learn the principles and practice of Japanese tea ceremony in an immersive 75-minute workshop led by Harue Imaizumi, a certified Omotesenke tea instructor based in Berkeley. The session covers matcha and Japanese tea culture, wellness benefits, ceremony etiquette, and hands-on whisking technique. You'll prepare and enjoy your own bowl of matcha with traditional Japanese sweets, then receive practical guidance on brewing matcha at home from water temperature to storage. Tea sourced from ochamode, founded by Mayuka Inaba, featuring organic matcha from Shizuoka, Japan. Q&A with instructor and founder included.

Join the San Jose Astronomical Association for a hands-on solar observation event featuring white-light and hydrogen-alpha telescopes revealing sunspots, prominences, and the Sun's chromosphere. A short introductory talk at 1:30 pm will cover how the Sun works and the role of magnetic fields in solar activity. Attendees can observe the Sun safely through specially filtered equipment, ask questions about solar astronomy, and learn about the scale of the solar system. Bring your own filtered telescope to share views with others. Come prepared for outdoor conditions with hat, sunscreen, and water.

A focused writing session for working writers at all levels. Bring a current project, draft, or idea you've been meaning to start. The evening opens with introductions and quick shares of what you're working on, then settles into quiet writing time with optional headphones for concentration. Afterward, regroup to celebrate progress and enjoy social time over drinks and snacks in the cozy bookstore setting.

A Samhain ritual celebration honoring the thinning of the veil, the season of ancestors, and Earth's cycles. Intuitive witch and author Casey Zabala guides participants through meditative practices, shares energetic and traditional aspects of Samhain, and leads a spiralic ritual for integration and remembrance. All are welcomed—witches and witch-curious folks gather in non-dogmatic space for magical connection, honoring endings and the wisdom of the dark season.

A lantern-lit Día de Muertos walk to Jewel Lake led by Paula Urtecho, honoring deceased loved ones and extinct and endangered park species. Bring a photo of someone you wish to remember to add to a communal altar. The walk covers 0.5–2 miles on paved and gravel trails with minimal elevation change. Drop-in, no registration required.

A somatic movement workshop led by interdisciplinary artist Steffani Jemison, an Associate Professor at Rutgers University and exhibiting artist whose work spans mark-making, gesture, projection, and movement. Drawing on the children's game 'Marco Polo,' participants will explore orientation, perspective, and relation through guided improvisation, playful prompts, and contact improvisation. The workshop integrates theory, fiction, and poetry—referencing Dionne Brand, Tyrone S. Palmer, and Quincy Troupe—and is adaptable to all bodies and physical capacities. No prior movement experience required.

A poetry writing workshop led by writer and educator Darius Simpson, exploring vulnerability and creative expression through verse as a form of resistance. The workshop welcomes all experience levels and draws on traditions of the Black Arts Movement and spoken word circles, fostering peer dialogue and collective learning. Simpson is a New Afrikan writer, farmer, and recipient of fellowships from the Poetry Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts; his collection Never Catch Me is recently published.

A hands-on perfume-making workshop exploring the art and science of scent. Learn how fragrance notes, structure, and composition create depth and longevity, then build your own custom 10ml fragrance by blending from a curated palette of citrus, floral, fruity, woody, musky, and gourmand notes. No prior knowledge needed. Take home your bottled creation and personal fragrance formula.

A faculty panel and workshop exploring AI's role in education, moderated by Pranav Anand (Faculty Director, Humanities Institute; Professor of Linguistics). Panelists include Leilani Gilpin (Computer Science and Engineering), Zac Zimmer (Literature), Lauren Lyons (Philosophy), and Adam Smith (Computational Media). The discussion addresses how AI impacts critical thinking, learning outcomes, and entry-level careers; questions of ethics, equity, and institutional policy; and whether students should embrace, avoid, or selectively use AI. Following the panel, attendees will join small-group workshops to brainstorm institutional responses and pathways forward. The first in a proposed series on AI and education.

A hands-on workshop introducing Snowflake Data Cloud, covering platform navigation, data organization, access management, querying structured and semi-structured data, and built-in AI/ML capabilities. Led by Dave Doan and Richie Bachala, Senior Delivery Manager and Senior Manager of Applied Engineering at Snowflake, respectively. Part of the TechEquity AI Summit, a series of events combining keynotes, panels, and technical workshops designed to democratize AI knowledge and applications.

Learn to tell compelling stories across any medium with writer and filmmaker David Feather. This hands-on workshop explores story structure using popular media, examines storytelling techniques from cultures around the world, and includes collaborative writing and feedback on participant ideas. Designed for teens, tweens, and young adults. Part of Literally How, a monthly life literacy series at Berkeley Public Library's North Branch offering hands-on skill-building workshops.

A 60-minute guided somatic breathwork session with certified practitioner Anna Bolender designed to facilitate emotional release, nervous system reset, and clarity. Using circular connected breathing with rhythmic music, participants engage their body's innate healing capacity to discharge stored emotions, stress, and trauma responses. The session includes an opening check-in, the guided breathwork journey, and optional group integration and sharing. Suitable for anyone seeking release, clarity, or reconnection with their body.

On election night, physicist and author Sky Nelson-Isaac guides an interactive workshop on staying grounded when politics divides us. Drawing on his forthcoming book *The Synchronicity Path* and years of seeking out people with different worldviews, Nelson-Isaac introduces SEW (Style, Emotions, Wholeness)—a simple framework for staying curious rather than taking sides. The event combines real conversation, wine, and collective inquiry into the deeper questions beneath recurring arguments.

Participants translate handmade patterns into digital geometry and three-dimensional forms through computational design and digital fabrication. Led by computational designer Stepan Drunks, this workshop bridges traditional craft and emerging technology, exploring how new tools can transform cultural and personal patterns while preserving the stories behind them. Attendees will learn to move from 2D pattern to digital design to 3D printing, experiment with generative pattern-making, and investigate connections between craft, culture, and technology. New participants welcome; those from earlier sessions can continue developing their work.

An in-person tutorial on using WAVE, Santa Clara University's High Performance Computing Center. The session begins with an informational presentation followed by hands-on practice time and Q&A with the WAVE support staff. Bring a laptop to access the system.

A hands-on afternoon hackathon where participants build a Company Brain—an AI-powered knowledge system that connects organizational documents, tools, and institutional knowledge. The program opens with a keynote by Stephen Chin (VP of Developer Relations, Neo4j) on GraphRAG patterns and production systems, followed by two hackathon rounds with live demonstrations and judging. Designed for developers, engineers, startup founders, students, and anyone exploring agent-based AI systems. Hosted by TechEquity AI at Snowflake's Silicon Valley AI Hub in Menlo Park.

Part of the TechEquity AI Summit, this half-day program combines a keynote on GraphRAG patterns with a hands-on 90-minute workshop on AI Gateway architecture and governance. Learn core concepts including build-vs-buy tradeoffs, cost visibility, rate limiting, and sensitive data redaction using Snowflake AI Gateway as a primary case study, with comparison to alternatives like LiteLLM, Kong, and Cloudflare AI Gateway. Speakers: Okhtay Azarmanesh, Principal AI/ML Architect at Snowflake, and Stephen Chin, VP of Developer Relations at Neo4j. No prerequisites beyond familiarity with AI agents and LLMs.

A workshop on integrating AI tools into academic work, career planning, and daily life. Designed for students navigating rapid AI development and seeking practical guidance on deploying these resources effectively.

A live demonstration of dong-ahn (youthful) makeup technique with Aurelia Kim, founder and makeup artist of Aube Hair & Makeup. Kim will showcase Korean beauty's foundation method on a live model, exploring how subtle changes in placement, texture, and balance shape facial contours and create polished, natural looks. The event examines the artistry and intricacies of K-Beauty and how intentional details transform overall appearance. Hosted by the Center for Asia Pacific Studies at University of San Francisco.

A hands-on workshop exploring how biological signals can be translated into robotic movement and synthesized sound. Artists Scott Kildall and Kal Spelletich—collaborating with over 50 years of combined experience in experimental art and technology—will demonstrate their bio-art practices: Kildall transforms environmental data and fungal signals into sculptural sound installations, while Spelletich creates interactive robotic sound machines from plants. Participants will engage with working prototypes, learn electronics and data harvesting techniques, and develop strategies for their own bio-related art projects. No technical prerequisites required. Part of Gray Area's Patch Bay weekly series for media artists and creative technologists.

Join SF Craft Club for a Practical Magic-themed evening of hands-on crafting at The Love Potion Library. Make your own spellbook by decorating a blank hardcover notebook with paper, fabric, and leather scraps, then create potion keychains by filling tiny vials with dried herbs, florals, charms, and whimsical items. The ticket includes all supplies, tea, wine, pastries, a goodie bag, printed photobooth photos, and a raffle entry. Bring your own craft supplies or special potion fillings if desired; Practical Magic-inspired attire is encouraged.

A professional development workshop for K–12 and college educators on US involvement in fascism from the Spanish Civil War through the Nuremberg trials and beyond. Sebastiaan Faber of the Abraham Lincoln Brigades Archives and Oberlin College explores how American citizens, policy, and institutions responded to the rise of fascism in Europe and its legacies. Designed for teachers and students seeking historical context and pedagogical approaches to this period.

Explore the art of Yiddish 'song smuggling' — how songs cross borders between languages, cultures, and musical traditions — in this hands-on workshop led by Daniel Kahn, a Detroit-born, Hamburg-based troubadour and multi-instrumentalist. The workshop focuses on polyglot performance, tradaptation (translation plus adaptation), musical mixology, and other modes of border-crossing in modern Yiddish song work. Participants should bring their voice, languages, and willingness to experiment. For singers, musicians, and the polyglot-curious; advance registration required.

A full-day symposium exploring how artificial intelligence can create meaningful real-world impact while ensuring its progress benefits society. Participants engage in five interconnected areas: Responsible & Sustainable Innovation, AI Safety, Long-Context Web Search, Climate Change, and the ethical implications of technological advancement. The program includes a resilience workshop, frontier exploration sessions, a hands-on 2-hour prototyping workshop with mentors from Neo, Frontier Lab, and major tech companies, live demos, judging, and networking. Designed for researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, students, and anyone curious about the future of AI.

A practical workshop for small-business owners to learn how to use AI tools to grow their businesses online. Hosted by Grow with Google in partnership with San José's Mayor's Office, San José Public Library, and the Bay Area Council as part of the AI For All Initiative. No prior AI experience required; light refreshments provided.

A one-mile walking tour of downtown Novato exploring new housing developments, transit connections, and infrastructure improvements for walking and biking. Led by Jessie Rountree, Marin Resilience Manager at Greenbelt Alliance, the tour offers a firsthand look at existing, proposed, and in-progress developments while discussing how to build a safer, more connected community focused on climate solutions. Participants will observe real urban change and contribute ideas for neighborhood improvement.

A two-part workshop exploring movement building rooted in deep relationships and collective responsibility. Part One uses guided poetry and storytelling to explore kuleana—our responsibilities to ourselves, families, lands, and communities—through hands-on writing exercises. Part Two, facilitated by SOUL, RUKUS Society, and the Huli Movement, covers campaign strategy, organizing tactics, targets, messaging, and security culture for building sustainable movements. Led by Dr. Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, a Kanaka Maoli organizer, scholar, and Associate Professor of Indigenous and Native Hawaiian Politics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

A creative gathering for processing difficult experiences through writing, art, reflection, and conversation. Nick Silva shares his story, followed by facilitated creative work with optional sharing. No artistic experience needed; materials provided. This is peer support and creative expression, not therapy. A space to witness, create, and connect around what has been hard to name.

A 2-hour introductory workshop in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), an experiential group practice rooted in the Bonny Method—a recognized music-psychotherapy modality developed from Helen Bonny's work supporting LSD-assisted therapy in the 1960s. Participants lie down and listen to two curated classical music programs designed to surface inner imagery, emotion, and insight, then integrate the experience through mandala drawing. No musical or art background required; the practice opens expanded awareness through sound, relaxation, and attention alone. Led by Sophia Wang at The Berkeley Alembic.

Discover the estuary where the San Lorenzo River meets Monterey Bay and learn why these habitats are vital for wildlife. Led by Suzy Clark of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, this easy-to-moderate 2-mile guided walk combines natural history and ecology. Part of the San Lorenzo River Walk Series, featuring expert guides from the Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project, Coastal Watershed Council, and Santa Cruz Bird Club. Suitable for school-age children and adults.

A six-hour intensive workshop on grammar, syntax, and prose style led by Constance Hale, author of *Sin and Syntax* and former editor at Wired and the San Francisco Examiner. Through exercises, prompts, and guided practice, participants will master sentence structure, punctuation, voice, and common grammatical pitfalls—exploring how to exploit grammar as a tool for powerful writing rather than a set of rules to fear. Open to writers of all genres and experience levels. Includes book, bagels, and instruction on building writer's voice.

Learn traditional seed-cleaning techniques—threshing and winnowing—with Farmer Sama of Reyhan Herb Farm, a small-scale Bay Area grower of heritage crops from the SWANA region. This hands-on workshop transforms the end-of-season seed harvest into dry, shelf-stable seed lots ready for storage and sharing. Participants will engage in practices unchanged since agriculture's origins while entering a flow state of meditative, connective work. The event celebrates ancestral foodways, ecological knowledge, and the relaxation found in working with your hands alongside others.

A hands-on writing workshop exploring how to unlock and share the stories of your life. Britta Stromeyer guides participants through exercises designed to help you move from idea to page, drawing inspiration from Maya Angelou's insight that untold stories carry a unique burden. Ideal for writers at any stage seeking to translate lived experience into narrative.

Learn your rights and responsibilities in banking, covering account options, unclaimed assets, fraud prevention, and financial emergency preparedness. Erick Tenorio, Bay Area Regional Manager of Self Help Federal Credit Union and Executive Director of RAICES, brings 25+ years in financial services and capability work. The workshop connects participants with local resources for financial coaching, planning, and money management to address economic inequities affecting Bay Area communities.

Join artist Jacob Hashimoto in a hands-on kite-making workshop within his monumental installation Giant Arc, featuring over 70,000 handmade kites inspired by the Bay Area landscape. Learn traditional kite construction with bamboo and paper, then continue creating at your own pace. All ages and skill levels welcome. Hosted at SFMOMA.

Discover which owls inhabit the Bay Area and learn about their adaptations in this hands-on nature program led by naturalist Melissa Fowlks at Tilden Nature Area's Environmental Education Center. Participants will dissect owl pellets to understand these silent hunters' diets and behavior. Drop-in; no registration required.

An immersive afternoon of mantra, sound practice, and embodied exploration with Grammy-nominated artist and teacher Radhika Vekaria. Through direct practice—chanting, mudras, breath work, and group vocalization—participants explore sound as an organizing intelligence for cultivating focus, presence, and inner coherence. The workshop draws on yogic philosophy to examine mantra's deeper meaning, the relationship between sound and resilience, and chant as a practice of clarity and courage. No prior experience required. The afternoon closes with a 75-minute live performance by Vekaria in a communal setting.

A workshop exploring hybrid, small press, university, and self-publishing paths with author and publisher Albert Flynn DeSilver. Participants will analyze case studies, complete writing exercises, and learn strategies for navigating the modern publishing landscape beyond traditional routes.

A hands-on workshop for families inspired by South African artist William Kentridge's stop-motion charcoal drawings. Participants use a variety of materials to create their own animated drawings. The event includes a talk by Kentridge at 2 p.m. in Phillis Wattis Theater. No museum admission required for the workshop.

A hands-on workshop exploring the experimental materials and processes of Korean-American artist Ha Chong-Hyun. Inspired by the Asian Art Museum's retrospective of his work, participants squish, cut, press, and manipulate materials to explore texture and discover unexpected creative possibilities. Your contributions become part of a collaborative community art project, with all participants credited. Perfect for anyone curious about contemporary art and material experimentation.

A day-long celebration of marine science at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center featuring the return of Ms. Blue, a reconstructed Great Blue Whale skeleton. Attendees can ask marine scientists about whale biology, ocean ecosystems, and the Center's conservation research; create art at a community mural; explore a special exhibit on the whale's reconstruction; participate in music and movement activities; and enjoy coastal explorations and behind-the-scenes experiences. The festival includes food trucks, local makers, and live music throughout the day.

Educator, anthropologist, and community organizer Isa Prieto leads a discussion and collective mapmaking activity exploring utopianism and the fragments of utopia already present in Bay Area neighborhoods. Participants will engage in hands-on mapping as both an intellectual and creative practice, examining how communities envision and build alternative futures. Hosted at BAMPFA (Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive).

Craft your own parol, the iconic Filipino star lantern, in this all-ages workshop led by SOMA Pilipinas. Materials provided. Finished lanterns can be carried in SOMA Pilipinas' 24th Annual Parol Lantern Festival on December 12, 2026. The parol symbolizes hope, peace, joy, and light, and historically signaled welcome and refuge. For San Francisco's Filipino community, it represents shared heritage and ritual.

Artist and bestselling author Lea Redmond explores gift-giving as an act of relational care and human connection. Rather than reducing gifts to consumer products, Redmond proposes that thoughtful gift-giving honors the spaces between us and practices our best humanity. She shares her vision from *This Is for You*, her latest book, and leads an interactive workshop with practical gift ideas ahead of the holiday season. Redmond is author of *Knit the Sky*, *Wonder Hunt*, *Paint Chip Poetry*, and the bestselling *Letters to My…* keepsake journal series, and runs the World's Smallest Post Service.

A reading and generative workshop celebrating Emilie Lygren's anthology *How to Get Home in the Dark: Poems on Mental Health and Healing*. Lygren reads alongside poets Alegria Barclay, Zeina Hashem Beck, Melissa Fowlks, and Antwan Linton Penn, followed by a brief panel discussion. Attendees then write their own pieces in conversation with the anthology—paper, pens, and journal space provided. A space for poetry, reflection, and shared creative practice around healing and mental health.

A workshop on lucid dreaming as a trainable skill and gateway to psychonavigation—the art of moving through your own psyche with clarity and intention. Mother-daughter teaching team Norma Burton and Nisha Burton guide participants through foundational practices from cultures worldwide, including dreamwork, shadow work, and drumming journeys. Designed to build an inner map supporting healing, intuition, and discernment, the workshop also serves as preparation for integrating psychedelic experiences.

A series of classes on digital literacy and technology safety led by Digital Services Librarian Franklin Walther at Mill Valley Public Library. Designed to help participants navigate rapidly changing technology, avoid cybersecurity risks, and develop practical competency with digital tools and platforms.

A design workshop exploring music hardware as fashion. Nick Susi and artist VÉRITÉ trace the evolution from the Walkman to AirPods, sharing design references and historical context on how musicians make their sonic worlds tangible through wearable devices. Attendees then sketch their own wearable music-inspired device and share the creative story behind it, gaining insight into the emerging intersection of music, fashion, and technology.

A relational mindfulness practice combining elements of Circling and T-Groups. Participants gather to practice real-time dialogue about internal experience and interpersonal dynamics in the present moment. The format emphasizes heightened self-awareness, attunement to others, emotional intelligence, and practical relationship skills through structured group interaction and feedback. Designed as a laboratory for connection and embodied learning rather than therapy or external discussion.

A hands-on workshop where participants bring a small object, scan it into a 3D digital model using 3D scanning technology, and then place it back into the real world using augmented reality. No previous 3D or technical experience required. Learn the fundamentals of 3D scanning, 3D modeling, augmented reality, and spatial computing while creating your own digital clone. Hosted by the KLEVR Lab at San José State University's King Library, a resource for exploring emerging technologies in digital creativity and learning.

A three-part prompt-based storytelling workshop series designed for older adults, led by Stagebridge, the nation's oldest performing arts organization for seniors. No storytelling experience necessary. Participants can join single sessions or the full series. Sessions are October 27th, November 10th, and November 24th. Registration encouraged but not required; walk-ins welcome.

A playful writing workshop exploring the many forms of love in ancient Greek philosophy—Eros, Philia, Storge, and Agape. Led by Katherine Okpara, participants will write poems, stories, or songs inspired by these concepts, experimenting with literary techniques like alliteration and sensory detail. Newcomers can riff on famous love stories, adding new stanzas, chapters, or alternate endings. $5 ticket includes a drink or purchase credit.

An interactive exchange connecting youth community organizers working at the intersection of environmental justice and climate action. Learn organizing strategies from representatives of HOPE Collaborative, Oakland Climate Resilient Communities, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, and the Indigenous Justice Coalition. Designed for SCU students, faculty, staff, and community members to explore collaboration opportunities and support transformative change. Faculty and community partners interested in community-engaged research and community-based learning are especially welcome.

A 6-session monthly reflective practice group for practicing mediators, beginning January 2026. Led by Howard Herman, an experienced mediator and trainer currently at JAMS who pioneered practice groups at the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, the group creates a confidential space for mediators to present cases, explore their interventions, and learn collaboratively. Limited to 12 in-person participants committed to stable membership. Hosted by UC Law San Francisco's Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution.

A hands-on creative workshop where visual artists, designers, and anyone curious about creative experimentation work from a shared brief to develop original work across digital and physical media—illustration, collage, painting, graphic design, 3D, and motion. Facilitators Mikey J Jensen (visual artist and founder of Render Settings) and Ratha Nou (multidisciplinary artist and creative director of Stablished Projects) introduce the challenge and source materials; participants create using their preferred tools; the evening closes with a group showcase and feedback. Work in progress welcome. Part of Gray Area's weekly Patch Bay series for media artists and creative technologists.

A hands-on workshop on recognizing and transforming everyday moments into authentic content. Led by Alex Duvall, this mini-class teaches participants to identify content ideas from conversations, lessons, and workday experiences, then craft them without overthinking or mimicking others. Attendees will practice together and leave with two specific content ideas plus a realistic one-hour creation plan. Bring your lunch.

Learn to build a personalized AI assistant that synthesizes email, calendar, and personal context into a daily briefing to help you identify priorities and organize your day. Patricia Rodriguez, Director of Resources and Operations at SJSU King Library, will demonstrate a real-world example and discuss how to adapt the approach to different roles and work styles. This hands-on workshop includes time to experiment with your own workflow, ask questions, and begin designing a morning briefing tailored to you. Bring your laptop.

A somatic workshop on nervous system regulation and embodied healing with Anna Bolender, certified Somatic Embodiment & Intuitive Life Coach. Participants will experience guided breathwork, body awareness, grounding exercises, and mindful movement while learning why body-based practices create lasting change beyond mindset work alone. The session covers how stress and emotions are stored in the body, practical nervous system tools for daily calm and presence, and simple embodiment practices for reconnecting with inner wisdom.

A generative writing workshop led by poet Jennifer Barone, author of Sirenland. Participants explore siren mythology of the Bay of Naples through photographs, ancient artifacts, and archaeological discoveries, engaging themes of death, transcendence, sensuality, longing, and transformation. The workshop uses guided writing prompts to awaken creativity and invite attendees into their own creative territory. Open to writers of all genres; no previous experience necessary. Limited to 15 participants.

A reflective poetry workshop led by poet, author, filmmaker, and educator Amber Allen-Peirson, drawing from her collection *The Unrooted Bloom*. Participants explore identity, belonging, and the conditions that allow authentic self-expression through guided writing prompts and introspection. Topics include where you feel seen and safe, how you adapt to belong, what you've inherited, and what parts of yourself are ready to emerge. No prior poetry or writing experience required; all are invited to write honestly and share only what they choose.

A writing workshop on embodying memoir, led by Savala Nolan, author of *Good Woman: A Reckoning* and *Don't Let It Get You Down: Essays on Race, Gender, and the Body*. Nolan explores how writers draw from and contend with the body to craft honest, fresh memoir — what our bodies can tell us that minds cannot, how to work with embodiment when we live in a society hostile to our bodies, and concrete approaches to honest representation. The session includes examples of embodied writing from celebrated authors and a skills-building exercise. Bring pen, notebook, or laptop.

A full-day hands-on workshop where participants build an AI Software Factory using Band's infrastructure for agent collaboration. Developers, designers, founders, and builders of all experience levels will learn how AI coding agents coordinate to produce working software from specifications, using Band Desktop tools. The day includes prize announcements, a panel discussion, and technical introductions. Participants may work solo or in teams; bring your laptop and relevant tools/accounts. Organized by HackerSquad at AWS Builder Loft.

An interactive workshop on repair, reuse, and circular living led by San Francisco Environment. Learn practical skills and discover local resources for extending the life of everyday items, reducing waste, and supporting a circular economy. The workshop explores how repairing and sharing help conserve resources and advance climate action. Space is limited; reservations required.

A beginning twined basketry workshop using paper rush, led by Michelle and Jenny of Jardin Wicker. Twining is an ancient weaving technique where horizontal strands are twisted around vertical strands to create strong, pliable structures. Participants will complete a finished basket in this session, with colorful hand-dyed options available. Returning students can learn to add handles and lids to advance their skills. Instructors Michelle and Jenny are fine artists and wicker specialists with decades of experience in restoration and weaving. Open to ages 9 and up.

A one-day creative relief retreat exploring how creativity and mental health intersect to support wellbeing. The afternoon includes meditation and movement exercises, talks from guest artists and mental health practitioners, and a creative mental health workshop with tangible tools for daily practice. No artistic experience required—just bring an open mind. Hosted by the You Aren't Alone Project, a nonprofit creating safe, supportive spaces around shared creative journeys and mental health conversation.

A hands-on cooking workshop led by chef and educator JiYoung Park, founder of Parks Kitchen in San Francisco. Participants will prepare sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) and baechujeon (Korean cabbage pancakes) — two dishes featured in Yim Soon-rye's 2018 film Little Forest — while learning about the cultural significance of Korean cuisine, how recipes evolve through families, and Park's own journey reinterpreting Korean food heritage. All materials provided; dishes prepared and enjoyed fresh after cooking.

Learn to create and edit images using AI tools in this hands-on workshop. Bridget Burke, an AI expert, guides participants through practical projects including event graphics, photo restoration, room makeovers, and creative image transformation. Explore how AI can remove or add objects, change backgrounds, and reimagine images in new visual styles. No design experience required—just bring curiosity and ideas.

A beginner-friendly, hands-on hackathon where builders, hackers, artists, and scientists conduct real wet-lab experiments and compete for prizes. Tracks include longevity & AI, robotics, biosecurity, DeSci tooling, and real-time bio-imaging. No PhD, entry fee, or prior experience required—designed for anyone biocurious enough to engage with biotech as a tool for creative expression and learning. Judged by biotech founders and backed by frontier-science partners. Hosted at Frontier Tower.

Join artist Dorian Reid for an afternoon of art making and collective action celebrating the Black Cat Revolution. Inspired by her Emerging Artist Program exhibition *Calling All Cats*, Reid connects Black history, civil rights, animal welfare, and the superstitions surrounding black cats—drawing parallels between how black cats and Black people have been treated with fear and prejudice. Participants will create hand-painted protest signs, then march with Reid around the museum while joining in protest songs and chants rooted in civil rights movements. Reid, a Berkeley native and daughter of historian Betty Reid Soskin, channels her family's legacy of activism and community into this joyous call for liberation, justice, and care for all.

A two-hour memoir workshop led by Katharine Harer, a poet and creative writing instructor. Participants will excavate and write personal memories—sights, sounds, feelings, smells, tastes—and learn techniques for crafting vivid, emotionally resonant stories from lived experience. Harer has taught memoir and creative writing at the San Francisco Writing Salon for eight years and previously taught English at Skyline College. She is the author of seven poetry collections, including *Deconfliction* (2020) and *Jazz & Other Hot Subjects* (2016), with work published widely in literary journals, newspapers, magazines, and anthologies.

A workshop on managing caregiver stress and burnout, led by Heart Bridge Care, a San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit of hospice nurses providing end-of-life care navigation and community education. Participants will learn practical strategies for supporting their own well-being, including meditation and mindfulness techniques to reduce stress, recognizing when additional support is needed, and developing skills for asking for help. Part of the San Francisco Public Library's One City One Book programming.

A workshop and book signing with Alejandra Siroka on using language intentionally to deepen relationships and cultivate authenticity. Siroka explores how the words we choose shape our emotional connections and communication patterns, offering practical tools for more peaceful and genuine interactions. Book signing and refreshments provided.

A hands-on workshop for writers exploring memoir and personal narrative. Melissa Cistaro leads participants through practical exercises designed to unlock creative voice and develop the discipline of memoir writing. The workshop addresses the tension between creative aspiration and the time and commitment required to realize it.

A recurring weekly writing workshop exploring craft fundamentals through close reading and generative practice. Each session focuses on a specific element—setting, point of view, dialogue, tension—using published excerpts from novels, stories, essays, or memoirs as models. After discussion, participants engage in prompt-based writing, then have the option to share drafts and receive feedback from instructor Tanya Žilinskas (MFA, USF; author of work nominated for the Pushcart Prize) and fellow writers. Open to writers of all levels seeking practical skill-building and community.

A hands-on exploration of how AI and voice technology are reshaping our relationships with everyday objects. After a short talk on personification in media, technology, and culture, attendees will interact with several installations where ordinary things—water bottles, sketchbooks, and more—have been given distinct voices and personalities. Experiment with remixing personas, test your emotional reactions, and collectively imagine what this emerging era of talking objects could or should feel like.

A drawing and craft workshop led by Judd Winick, author and illustrator of the Hilo graphic novel series. Winick begins with a presentation on creating Hilo: The Holiday Special, then guides young readers and artists through drawing Hilo characters themselves. After Winick's departure, staff lead a surprise holiday craft activity. Attendees who preordered the new book receive 20% off all Hilo titles. Designed for ages 8–12; tickets $5.

A hands-on poetry workshop with Hannah Ensworth, a San Francisco poet and CSU Long Beach instructor (MFA, recipient of the 2021 Atlantis Award). Through generative prompts, writing exercises, and shared discussion, participants will explore what makes poetry resonate. Designed for beginners and returning writers—a space to experiment, write, and share work in community.

A hands-on workshop exploring motion capture technology at San José State University's KLEVR Lab. Using just a laptop and webcam, participants will capture their own movements and animate a digital avatar in real time—no prior animation or technical experience required. The workshop covers how MoCap is applied across video games, film, animation, virtual production, sports, and research, and introduces creative and technical careers in animation, game development, 3D art, and virtual production. Attendees will leave with their own short character animation and a practical understanding of how human movement translates to digital media.

A monthly workshop series for women building sustainable fitness practices. Each session combines guided strength and mobility work with group discussion on topics like habit building, recovery, and consistency in a full life. Hosted by Surbhi Adora at The Hivery, these recurring gatherings create space to try new approaches and adjust with the same community. All fitness levels welcome; those managing chronic pain or injury can participate in the discussion without the workout. November topic forthcoming.

Build your first phone voice agent in one evening with developer advocates from Deepgram and Vapi. This hands-on workshop guides you through creating a working voice agent that can pick up calls — no prior AI experience required. Bring a laptop; dinner and drinks provided.

An experiential workshop blending nervous system science with meditation, somatic practice, and relational exercises. Led by somatic facilitator Pauline Romas, the gathering explores the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and contemplative traditions—moving from intellectual understanding to embodied experience through gentle regulation practices, meditation, playful experiments, and partner inquiry. Designed for curious people drawn to the relationship between science and spirituality, no prior meditation experience required.

A creative workshop for expectant grandparents to reflect on family stories, traditions, values, and wisdom they hope to pass to the next generation. Participants create a personal 'gift basket' of family memories—treasured stories, photographs, recipes, letters to future grandchildren, and an ethical will—while exploring what they've inherited and learned. The session also introduces Hava NaBaby, a new expectant parents program combining childbirth education, Jewish wisdom, and community support, offering grandparents a meaningful way to support their adult children as they prepare for parenthood.

Learn computational poetry—treating language as material shaped through algorithms and code—in this hands-on workshop led by Alicia Guo, a computational poet and HCI researcher at the University of Washington. Participants will explore the history of computational poetry through artists and writers, recreate existing works using tools like RiTa and Nounsing, then create their own generative poem—whether endlessly evolving, time-shifting, or a strange language machine. No coding experience necessary; laptops required. Part of Gray Area's new Patch Bay series, a weekly program for media artists and creative technologists exploring emerging technology, AI's role in creative work, and experimental practice.

Create three handcrafted soy wax candles in this step-by-step workshop. Choose your seasonal fragrances, wax colors, and holiday-inspired molds, then craft three finished candles to take home. No experience necessary. Ticket holders receive 18% off drinks at Manny's Cafe bar.

A guided winter birding experience along the Pacific Flyway led by Naturalist Aki. Big Break's paved trails and pier viewpoints make it accessible for birders of all levels. The program uses birding by sound and adaptive scope equipment to help participants connect with migratory birds. The hike covers 0.5–2 miles on generally flat terrain with multiple rest opportunities and restroom access at the Visitor Center. Drop-in program; no registration required. Adult participation required.

A monthly one-hour mini-workshop for young storytellers in 4th grade and up, led by Anna Gonzalez. Participants gather on the third Thursday of each month for a welcoming creative writing and storytelling experience designed to nurture emerging voices.

A hands-on papercutting workshop led by artist Molly Almeida, inspired by the Ketubah Renaissance exhibition. Learn the basics of papercutting—planning, cutting, and composition—while exploring the decorative traditions and symbolic patterns of ketubah art. Work with shape, pattern, and negative space to create a one-of-a-kind paper work. No prior experience needed; ages 14+.

Join artist and author Megumi Inouye for a hands-on workshop exploring gift wrapping as a practice of gratitude and mindfulness. Through conversation and guided making, Inouye will discuss her book *Origami Gift Wrap* and lead participants in creating an origami-inspired gift box, embellishments, and learning a tape-free technique for wrapping books. No previous experience needed; all materials provided. Tea will be served. Inouye will be available to sign books after the workshop.

A hands-on writing workshop curated by Alexandra Kostoulas, an award-winning poet, fiction writer, and journalist who founded the San Francisco Creative Writing Institute. Participants exercise their imagination through guided writing projects and the Jack Grapes METHOD WRITING approach. All materials are provided.

A hands-on challah-braiding workshop exploring Mizrahi Jewish food traditions. Participants mix, fill, and top their own loaves with spices and ingredients including za'atar, sumac, date, tahini, sesame, cardamom, and rose, then braid and take home their creation to bake. Part of a monthly drop-in series on the fourth Friday, featuring seasonal flavors and creative braids alongside classics. No culinary experience needed.

A structured community discovery event exploring real-world applications for voice AI technology. Participants—founders, builders, operators, and community leaders—will engage in small-group conversations to identify meaningful challenges across small business, education, accessibility, healthcare, workforce development, and community services. Selected ideas will advance to a mini hackathon and demo showcase, creating a conversation-to-creation pipeline. First in a three-part series presented by NemulAI and Lynkable.

A guided exploration of the Palo Alto Baylands led by Environmental Volunteers docents, investigating the science and ecology of this unique saltwater habitat. Participants will learn how plants and animals survive saline conditions, why the environment changes seasonally and throughout the day, and how to protect this fragile ecosystem. Suitable for ages 6 and up; children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Low-impact hike.

Award-winning botanical artist Kristin Jakob explores how careful observation becomes creative practice through artwork, stories, and demonstrations. The afternoon includes an all-day studio workshop where participants practice observational drawing with individual coaching using natural specimens; all materials provided. Jakob, a Marin County resident and Mill Valley Milley Award recipient (2013), combines scientific accuracy with artistic sensitivity in watercolor and pen-and-ink drawings of California's native plants. Her work has been illustrated in books on California monocots and exhibited at the San Francisco Botanical Garden and throughout the Bay Area.

A hands-on artmaking workshop exploring the landscapes of California and beyond, led by Josué Rojas, 2027 Osher Fellow. Connect with natural and cultural landscapes through creative practice in the East Garden.

Learn about the axolotl and its cultural and ecological importance in this hands-on watercolor workshop led by 2027 Osher Fellow Josué Rojas. Connect with these amphibians and explore their significance through art-making in the East Garden.

An evening exploring Oakland's boxing legacy and the next generation keeping the sport alive in the Bay Area. The program combines conversation and history with a hands-on boxing workshop led by community practitioners. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes; the workshop welcomes complete beginners of all ages and bodies, requiring no prior experience or equipment.

A day-long celebration of The Berkeley Alembic's new managing director Anisa Charucksiri and the organization's next chapter, featuring eight teachers offering art, meditation, voice, dance, somatic connection, and kirtan throughout the afternoon and evening. Co-founders Michael Taft and Erik Davis will share long-term visions, with a community gathering and guided meditation in the late afternoon, followed by dancing, kirtan, and live music into the night. Food trucks and tea service available. Open to the Alembic community and curious guests.

Make a warming and fragrant pot pourri while sipping apple cider and gathering in community to reflect on intentions for the end of the year. Led by Talyce Ketura, a queer, mixed Afro-Caribbean herbalist, writer, and founder of Àtúnbí Wellness, who brings nearly a decade of experience in herbal medicine and reproductive justice rooted in Black feminist praxis. Part of Freedom Community Clinic's Herbalist-in-Residence program, which offers bi-weekly hands-on workshops in herbal craft and medicine-making.

A multi-day ritual event combining storytelling, music, and visual altars exploring belonging and diaspora. Presented by EastSide Arts Alliance, Puri Arts, Asian Refugees United, and the Asian Prisoner Support Committee, featuring artist Dohee Lee and musician Adria Otte. The program includes 'Calling the Spirit,' a musical offering (Friday, Nov. 20, 7pm), and two sessions of 'Storytelling and Ritual' (Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-22, 2pm) immersed in altars and offerings.

Make a wacky kite at this drop-in workshop led by educators from SCRAP, a San Francisco arts organization founded in 1976 that makes art materials accessible to everyone. SCRAP provides all materials—sourced from their creative reuse center—and participants create make-and-take art projects inspired by SFMOMA exhibitions. Your kite doesn't have to fly, but it can certainly soar through your imagination. No museum admission required.

A hands-on workshop on piracy basics, hosted at Tamarack, a community space, café, and lending library focused on critical theory, social movements, and local history.

Hand-build and personalize a ceramic menorah (hanukkiyah) in this workshop for ages 14+. Learn basic hand-building techniques as you shape your piece, then select from three glaze options. The JCC will handle glazing and firing; your finished menorah will be ready for pickup on Friday, December 4. Stay for a community candle-lighting ceremony at 4:30 pm in the atrium to light your new menorah for the first time. No ceramics experience needed. Space is limited; registration required.

A hands-on workshop on five essential iPhone skills led by Jon Hartman of Option-Click Consulting. Participants will learn to navigate the iPhone interface, customize settings, and use Siri for voice commands through interactive demonstrations and practice.

Learn needle felting fundamentals and create 3D soft sculptures. This hands-on workshop covers basic techniques for forming shapes and shaping wool. All materials provided. Registration required.

Rite Life is a creative workshop blending automatic writing with ancestor veneration, designed to confront difficult emotions and celebrate what sustains us. Facilitated by Gabe alongside local writers and practitioners, the workshop honors the vision of Honeysun, a poet and spiritual teacher who conceived it in 2016. Participants of all ages engage in guided writing practice in the cemetery setting, combining craft instruction with contemplative spiritual work.

A guided sound bath meditation at the Conservatory of Flowers' Orchid Pavilion featuring crystal singing bowls, gongs, hand pan, monochord, drums, chimes, and vocals. Designed to promote calm, release anxiety and stress, and stimulate healing through frequency and vibration. All experience levels welcome; bring a yoga mat and blankets for comfort. Multiple dates throughout 2026.

Create a custom 14-inch holiday wreath from premium greenery, ribbons, ornaments, florals, and seasonal accents. Participants choose their own design—classic Christmas, elegant winter, or entirely personal—and receive step-by-step instruction to assemble their one-of-a-kind wreath to take home. No experience necessary. Your ticket includes all materials and a selection of premade accents.

Part of the monthly Faith Meets World workshop series on Catholic Social Teaching, this interactive session explores the church's preferential option for the poor and its radical call to social justice. Workshops include opportunities for conversation and reflection among participants.

An interactive workshop for developing and performing personal stories. Participants will explore the fundamentals of crafting compelling narratives rooted in memory, identity, and lived experience through writing prompts, group exercises, and performance guidance. The workshop, led by Diaspora Arts Connection's storytelling program Third Culture Tales, focuses on emotional clarity, narrative structure, and authentic audience connection in a supportive, community-centered environment. By the end, participants will have the foundation of a personal story and the tools to perform it. Selected participants can then share their stories at Berkeley Open Stage, the festival's community storytelling event.

A series of classes on technology literacy and cybersecurity in everyday life, led by Digital Services Librarian Franklin Walther. Learn how to navigate rapidly changing digital tools, understand their societal implications, and protect yourself from cyber threats.

A weekly creative writing workshop exploring craft elements like setting, point of view, dialogue, and tension through published excerpts from novels, stories, essays, and memoirs. Each session begins with close reading and discussion of an illustrative text, followed by generative writing prompts designed to deepen understanding of the week's craft focus. Participants then have the option to share their work and receive feedback from instructor Tanya Žilinskas and fellow writers. Žilinskas is a novelist and essayist whose work has appeared in numerous publications and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize; she holds an MFA from the University of San Francisco.

A 60-minute guided somatic breathwork session using circular connected breathing and rhythmic music to facilitate emotional release, nervous system regulation, and clarity. Led by Anna Bolender, a certified Somatic Embodiment & Intuitive Life Coach and Somatic Breathwork Practitioner, this experience combines breathwork with movement and sound to help participants discharge stored emotions and trauma, reset their nervous system, and reconnect with their body's innate healing capacity. The session includes an opening check-in, guided breathwork journey, and optional group integration and sharing.

Transform your favorite books into glittering, one-of-a-kind keepsakes at this hands-on bedazzling workshop. Bring a beloved book from home or select from a curated menu of sassy classics provided on-site. All materials—rhinestones, gems, embellishments, and tools—plus step-by-step guidance are included. No crafting experience needed. Wine and snacks provided. Perfect for creating unique holiday gifts or adding sparkle to your own shelf.

A hands-on workshop exploring the ancient process of nixtamal and the craft of tortilla-making from scratch. Chef Emmanuel Galvan guides participants through corn preparation, discusses heirloom corn varieties and their culinary nuance, then presses and tastes together. Participants leave with practical skills and homemade gorditas.

A guided winter birdwalk led by naturalist Susan Ramos at Crown Memorial State Beach's Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary. Learn to identify shorebirds and marsh birds during their winter season, distinguishing between similar species in grays and browns. Binoculars available to borrow; beginners welcome. Drop-in, no registration required.

A guided nature walk exploring ferns and other ancient plants predating flowers, led by Anthony Fisher. Participants will identify species and learn about fern biology and ecology. Drop-in, no registration required. Meeting at the Environmental Education Center in Tilden Nature Area.

An evening exploring tarot through a Jewish mystical lens. Heather Cohen, an intuitive guide with backgrounds in tarot, astrology, Jewish mysticism, counseling, and expressive arts therapy, will lead candlelit readings and group interpretation of tarot imagery while examining connections between tarot and Kabbalah—the Jewish mystical tradition. Participants will discover how these traditions intersect, sip tea, and engage in reflection and shared discussion. No prior experience with tarot or Kabbalah required; ages 14+.

A year-end ritual workshop led by somatic coach Anna Bolender combining breathwork, gentle movement, visualization, and journaling to reflect on 2026, release what no longer serves, and set intentions for 2027. Participants will ground into the body, move through stuck energy, and reconnect with their vision for the new year through a guided closing circle. Bring a journal and water bottle; arrive on time as doors close promptly.

An artist walk and creative workshop led by Dev Heyrana, 2027 Osher Fellow and artist-in-residence on a recent scientific expedition to the Verde Island Passage in the Philippines. Participants will explore the California Academy of Sciences, find inspiration in what they observe, and create art together. All ages welcome, no experience necessary.

Learn essential Mac skills with Jon Hartman of Option-Click Consulting in this hands-on workshop series covering macOS, iPhones, Apple services, and related topics.

A creative workshop for ages 12–19 exploring portraiture, self-expression, and emotional awareness. Dev Heyrana, 2027 Osher Fellow, and photographer Priscilla Gragg—whose commercial work spans Nike, Gap, and Target campaigns—lead a hybrid portrait session and guided creative experience. Participants slow down, notice their feelings, and express themselves without pressure to find words. No prior art or photography experience required.

A hands-on writing workshop blending automatic writing with ancestor veneration practices, designed to confront what haunts us and celebrate what sustains us. Facilitated by Gabe alongside local writers and craft practitioners, the workshop preserves the vision of Honeysun, a poet and spiritual teacher who founded it in 2016. All ages welcome.

A winter bird-watching program for families led by Naturalist Miriam at Big Break Regional Preserve. Participants will observe migratory birds passing through the Delta, engage in crafts, and learn about winter ecology through play and guided exploration. Drop-in program; adult supervision required.

An end-of-year reading celebration and DIY book journal workshop at Book Society. Attendees share their favorite reads of 2026 on a Community Shelf, then craft a personalized reading journal for 2027 using provided templates and materials. The afternoon includes sparkling cider and closes with a toast to the new year. No artistic experience needed.

Create a custom portrait of your pet in this guided painting workshop. Before the session, email a photo of your pet's face to the artist, who will hand-sketch it onto your canvas. During the workshop, you'll receive step-by-step instruction on painting details like fur, feathers, eyes, and noses. All materials and techniques are provided; no prior painting experience is necessary. Leave with a one-of-a-kind portrait keepsake.

A generative poetry workshop led by Marin County Poet Laureate Francesca Bell. Participants discuss poems and poetic devices, then write together to imaginative prompts. Bell is author of *Bright Stain* (finalist for the Washington State Book Award) and *What Small Sound*, and translated Max Sessner's *Whoever Drowned Here* from German. Her work appears in ELLE, Los Angeles Review of Books, New England Review, and other major publications. Held monthly in collaboration with the Marin Poetry Center.

Join a creative paper plate sculpture workshop led by artist Daniel Attaboy Seifert at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. Participants will use paper plates, colored tapes, wire, staples, and scissors to create their own sculptural works. Materials provided.

A hands-on workshop for aspiring authors seeking guidance on developing a book idea from concept to first steps. Diane Conway, a writing coach praised by Anne Lamott for her intelligence, spiritual wisdom, and humor, leads participants through brainstorming techniques and practical next steps for turning a story concept into a publishable project. Ideal for writers at any stage who need direction and encouragement.

An intensive workshop, illustrated lecture, and guided visualization exploring the figure of Lilith across mythology, literature, and modern reclamation. Scarlett Amaris, screenwriter of *H.P. Lovecraft's Color Out of Space* and author on occult studies, traces Lilith from ancient night spirits and Jewish protective traditions through her appearance in Romantic poetry and nineteenth-century art—Goethe, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Collier—examining how female refusal, sexual autonomy, and power outside sanctioned structures became coded as danger. The workshop includes an interactive reflection on inherited agreements and suppression, followed by a twenty-minute guided visualization inviting participants to meet the exiled or ungovernable aspect of self. Participation is fully optional; no disclosure required.

Stacey Lindsay, author of *Being 40*, explores the Autumn Queen—a mythological archetype embodying courage, creativity, intuition, and power that has been conspicuously absent from how we narrate women's lives. Historically, the Maiden, Mother, and Crone dominated storytelling; Lindsay argues this erasure was deliberate and shows how to reclaim this missing stage. The event combines conversation about the Autumn Queen with hands-on creative practice: guided journaling, sketching, and crafting to uncover your own inner Autumn Queen, including designing a tarot card and making a personal ornament.

A four-week workshop on writing family history, led by Laurel Hilton. Learn how to begin researching, decide when to stop gathering material and start writing, and develop your own family narrative. Meets Wednesdays, January 20–February 10, 2027. Hosted at Book Passage.