Behind a new documentary, The Man Who Saves the World?, is a man who just might save the world. Or, more specifically, be the spark that saves the Amazon and thereby prevents the destruction of a region on which the world depends.
Patrick McCollum, 75, has led a life so weird and wonderful his biography reads like a fabrication. The Moraga resident has served as a chaplain to serial killers, been a jewelry maker for the late Queen Elizabeth and been hit by a drunk driver, pronounced dead and passed through what he says was “a tunnel of light,” in which the voice of God declared serving peace the only pathway for coming back to life.
McCollum is a Kung Fu master, an international peace activist, a minor king in Ghana, a self-taught violin maker and player, and a close friend of the late Jane Goodall. During a journey to meet with South American Indigenous Elders, the Kogi Tribe in Colombia and the Jaguar People identified McCollum as the prophet they and other communities believe is destined to save the Amazon.
Filmmaker Gabe Polsky’s documentary features thought leaders like Goodall and Indigenous elders, chiefs, leaders and kings. Polsky narrates the film, his questions and tone initially displaying acute skepticism but eventually yielding to stunned belief. After investigating McCollum’s claims and traveling with him for months, he told McCollum the journey was profound.
“As a documentary filmmaker, it’s not a fantasy film,” McCollum said. “It’s about truth, accuracy. He stayed independent and questioned everything. In the end, he said his worldview in terms of spirituality and possibility was transformed, in a good way.”
McCollum said the film’s half-dozen screenings have met with standing ovations and people asking how they can play a role in his work. This has reinforced his primary intentions. “I couldn’t have cared less about being in a movie or getting fame,” McCollum said. “I was simply doing what I thought was right and needed to be done to help humanity.”
Goodall was a major supportive peer for McCollum during their weekly Zoom meetings, phone calls and emails. “I’d tell her, ‘I’m in my 70s and discouraged,’ and she’d say she was 85 and still going to 30 countries and that I was just a kid. If I was stuck, she offered solutions and privileged me to do the same for her,” McCollum said. Her loss devastated him.
McCollum was given some of Goodall’s ashes. He stores them in the World Peace Violin he made and upon which he taught himself to play. He takes the violin on his travels and says a portion of her ashes are also in his home’s altar. “She told me before she died to do that so she will always be close,” he said.
McCollum said the recent COP30 summit in Brazil broke through barriers. “Prior to that, Indigenous voices weren’t allowed a say in what’s going to happen with the Amazon,” he said. “Through the sheer volume of their voices, they were heard and got results. The governments of Brazil and other countries agreed to enact new laws to protect the Amazon.”
The next steps, he said, are to believe in big dreams and step forward. Regardless of age or ability, anyone can have a profound impact. “This prophecy given to me says I’m just tipping the domino,” McCollum said. “Indigenous people and the People of the Concrete, that’s you and I, will all be touched by the prophecy, unite and together shift the future of our planet in a positive way. Everyone touched is now part of the prophecy.”
McCollum says that with over 300 tribes forming the Indigenous Confederation of the Americas, a newly created constitution will be presented to the United Nations. He says that in the meantime and after he dies, the prophecy will unfold and be led by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and youth leaders worldwide.
“I’m just a guy from Moraga,” McCollum said. “As an ordinary person, I like that within me is something sacred that can be ignited. Every single person has that. Jane said this movie gives hope that good things are happening—I feel so blessed by her words.”
‘The Man Who Saves the World?’ screens locally at: 7pm Tue, Jan. 27, 2026, The Great Star Theater, 636 Jackson St., San Francisco; movie and Q&A with Patrick McCollum and Gabe Polsky at 7pm Wed, Jan. 28, 2026, Grand Lake Theatre, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland.
The marquee above Oakland’s historic movie palace, the Grand Lake Theatre, read “MANTRAS AT MIDNIGHT, OCTOBER 29” in big red letters above the heads of everyone walking past. Two men dressed in black climbed up and down a ladder beneath the marquee as one of them, the short film’s writer, director and producer, Takai Ginwright, prepared for the next important step of the film’s journey: promotion.
On the corner, Ginwright stood well over six feet tall, with a microphone attached to the collar of his orange jacket. As he climbed up the ladder for another look, he took a phone call from his grandmother and told her about the upcoming release.
“I wanted to tell you, my short film is coming out in October,” he said over the phone.
“What?!” his grandmother asked, trying to compete with the sound of the noisy street.
He repeated his announcement to one of the most important people in his life.
After descending the ladder, Ginwright and his creative partner for the day, Eric Webb, weaved through the crowd of middle schoolers, commuters and cars and into the intersection in search of the perfect shot.
From corner to corner—even standing on the traffic island for a short period of time—Ginwright and Webb peered through the camera’s viewfinder in their attempt to find the best image of the marquee and its message.
The first inklings of the idea for the film came to Ginwright during the pandemic. “It was something that was incessantly gnawing at me,” he later said at the film’s premiere. “When it didn’t leave me alone, it became a necessity for me to do it.”
Ginwright had always thought about making the ideas in his head real. His new film takes his adolescent interests and uses his adult experiences to make them tangible and relatable. He wondered what it would be like to turn the idea of chasing one’s dreams on its head. What if your dreams were chasing you? he thought.
“I’ve always had the desire to tell a story about two people that exist in two different worlds and how they connect and relate to one another,” Ginwright said.
Mantras At Midnight, part science fiction and part love story—and inspired by films such as Krzysztof Kieślowski’s 1991 The Double Life of Veronique—places the viewer in a world where the main characters come together, but exist in two different realities. Kiro, played by Abdoul Lamine, and Umi, played by Esther Oluokun, meet only in Kiro’s dreams.
“It’s a story about two people who are discovering who they are in the world, and their purpose,” Lamine said.
Much like most people in their 20s, Ginwright wrote the film while looking for his place in the world, and in that he discovered his sense of curiosity. He was interested in having more life experiences, like a failed situationship, to make the message he wanted to convey clearer. As a child he wanted to know how he was seeing live news from all over the world when CNN was playing in his house, and when he went to the movies with his aunt he thought about the process of filmmaking.
“My aunt used to always take me to the movies,” Ginwright said. “And I would think, how was I seeing a movie that told a story from beginning to end, but then how did it go from different angles? I didn’t understand editing. I didn’t understand how you could see one angle from the left side and then see it from the right side—that concept didn’t make sense to me as a kid. And so I think that was kind of the start of my curiosity.”
When getting into the weeds of making his film, he knew this endeavor was very different from anything he had tried to do in the past. With his sense of inquiry, he initially picked up the camera to do photography, but soon found himself using the features on his blue Nikon Coolpix to make a stop-motion video of his shoes. He had a vision for his creativity.
The Bay is known as a hot spot for unique artistic expression, and Ginwright used his home as the backdrop for this epic short story. In his quest for his own artistic creativity he traded in his handheld digital camera for the ARRI Alexa Mini LF and took it to numerous locations, from Oakland to Berkeley to Point Montara.
“Young creatives like Takai Ginwright remind us that Oakland’s future is being written right now—through art, imagination and bold storytelling,” said Carlos Uribe, community engagement manager of arts and culture from the office of Mayor Barbara Lee. “Our city has always been a place where visionaries use creativity to challenge limits and build connections. Films like Mantras At Midnight show how Oakland’s next generation is reimagining the world, and we’re proud to see that brilliance shine on screen.”
His short film cost him $32,190.88 to make, Ginwright said, pointing to an Excel spreadsheet. Seeing the film through to completion required several funding attempts. Not until 2024, after saving checks from his part-time job and gig work, was he able to fully fund the endeavor.
With this money and the help of his team of producers, actors, assistants and more, Mantras At Midnight was completed. But finding his team was no small feat. Ginwright found Lamine through a casting call he set up online, and Oluokun through a quick Instagram scroll.
The two actors embody their roles, as Kiro and Umi, in a way that conveys the emotions and feelings Ginwright wanted to express with his writing. Lamine said that working with Ginwright as a director was a fun experience, one which allowed him to express his creativity as an actor in new ways.
“Takai’s a great director,” Lamine said. “We tried a lot of things in the rehearsal that I hadn’t really been given by any other director. We would do the scene, and then he’ll say, ‘So for this scene, you have three pages—let’s try a take where you’re only allowed to say three lines.’ I think he’s a director who understands communication on a deep level.”
Family, friends and supporters of Ginwright attended the premiere in Oakland, all excited to be part of his first steps as a filmmaker. The film premiered in Los Angeles on Nov. 15, and in 2026 Ginwright will enter Mantras At Midnight into multiple festivals. With this first short-film release Ginwright joins other directors, including Ryan Coogler and Boots Riley, who help the rest of the world open its eyes to Oakland’s beauty.
Mantras At Midnight is “the start of a new beginning,” Ginwright said. “I want people to feel an experience of obsession, desire and a calling to something. There’s always something inside of us that wants to come to life. I hope people take a glimpse of that from this short film in one way or another.”
Let’s get this out of the way first: The Meaty Ogres is the best name for a band ever. So, it was a pleasant surprise to find that their debut album, Tunnington Tracks—released in September—was just as funky as their name. Soul, blues and psych are flooded through a funnel of rock. Songs like “Wish I’d Known,” “Never Came Around” and “Keep on Movin’” make it easy to see why their shows are all-night dance parties. This week the Berkeley-based quintet is joined by Quench and Gas Money for a night of go go go. – MAT WEIR
A highly versatile bass guitarist, prolific composer and resourceful improviser, Chris Trinidad has provided a jolt of creative energy to the Bay Area’s Asian-American jazz scene in recent years. His three-night RootStock residency at Wyldflowr Arts, which presents a series of distinct but overlapping projects, starts with the expansive Atom Ensemble featuring vocalist Roopa Mahadevan, drummer Kevin Amos, and Erika Oba on piano and flute. Friday’s concert with the Chris Trinidad Collective adds trumpeter Ryan Ancheta, guitarist Paride Pignotti, and vocalist Kira Hooks to a group powered by Amos and Oba. And Saturday’s performance by Chris Trinidad’s Chroma Tonic includes guitarist Alex Heigl, flutist Scott Oshiro and drummer Cy Thompson. – ANDREW GILBERT
There are several ways to mark Christmas in the Bay Area. One of the best is going to see the yearly “How the Grouch Stole Christmas” tour which returns this Friday. This year’s will be one fans are going to be talking about for years to come. Not only is the Grouch returning with his renowned collective, the Living Legends, but they will also be joined by Oakland’s famed Souls of Mischief and renowned Kentucky crew, CunninLynguists. What’s a better Christmas present than three of the greatest hip-hop groups of all on one stage? – MW
Award-winning comedian Tammy E. Clarke, a.k.a. Tammy TeaLove, is the charismatic, Oakland-based headliner of this show featuring a half-dozen laugh masters. Armed with humor, the troupe of six joins in all stories and jokes, fun and funny, to raise famine-relief funds for people in Gaza. A nation in ruins cannot be quickly healed, but its people can be helped. And isn’t it miraculous to discover a fabulously fun way to offer vital aid to people caught in the fabulously not-funny, wicked aftermath of war? Writers Against the War on Gaza will be at the event and offer information about additional ways to support Palestine’s rebuilding. – LOU FANCHER
A new supergroup that extends the Bay Area’s innovative Latin American music movement into new territory, Azesu combines jazz’s improv-laced conversational ethos with African diaspora rhythmic idioms from Peru, Cuba and Venezuela. The sextet is built on the percussion tandem of Venezuelan master Omar Ledezma Jr. and legendary Cuban timbalero Orestes Vilató, who helped define salsa in the 1970s with the Fania All Stars and went on to perform and record extensively with John Santos after moving to the Bay Area. Peruvian bassist David Pinto and pianist Jonathan Alford round out the rhythm section. Well-traveled saxophonist Sheldon Brown, who’s spent the past few years on the road with Cuban piano star Omar Sosa, elevates every musical situation. – AG
It’s easy to find rhythmic, vicarious satisfaction in the percussion and movement compendium of STOMP. Busting into the newly reopened Oakland venue, the 30th anniversary tour stop includes only three performances. Get hustling and line up for tickets to see a virtual orchestra with brooms, Zippo lighters, radiator hoses, hub caps, human bodies and more standing in for the traditional strings, percussion, brass and woodwind sections. STOMP is funny and astonishing, and has been celebrated in more than 50 countries and seen by over 26 million people. The award-winning show not only can’t be beat, it IS the beat. – LF
Unredeemed Grinches and Scrooges, here’s the event for you. Multi-instrumentalist and genre-defier Erin McKeown’s “F*ck That! Erin McKeown’s Anti-Holiday Spectacular” is, according to them, “the world’s first anti-capitalist, pro-queer, suspicious of Christmas-as-patriotism, sex-positive, not safe for work, multi-ethnic, radical leftist Anti-Holiday show.” For those whose teeth grind at the thought of sugary holiday spirit, feast your ears on Erin’s signature I-Hate-The-Holidays tunes, with new songs written for 2025, and join the crowd-sourced Cranky Carolers choir. Can we get a Bah Humbug? – JANIS HASHE
INFO: Sun, 7pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $20. 510.526.5888.
TUESDAY, DEC. 9
R&B
JOHN LEGEND
Twenty years after John Legend’s first studio album, Get Lifted, changed the shape of modern R&B, he’s taking the record back on the road. Get Lifted fuses gospel roots with secular R&B, playing out like a sinner-saint confession with tracks about infidelity, redemption and the messy tension between them. Touring with his full band, Legend is performing the record front to back, weaving in reinventions and some of the many hits he’s picked up along the way since his debut. Special guests are set to drop in throughout the tour. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
Besides spreading joy, the holiday season often inspires the desire to reflect and, perhaps, prepare to reinvent. Singer/songwriter Aviva Le Fey explores that impulse in her second album, The Fool, and celebrates its release in the warm embrace of Ashkenaz. Le Fey describes what to expect like this: “There will be literal and figurative magic. There will be celebration and divination and goofballs. Maybe you’ll meet the love of your life. Maybe you’ll bring the love of your life. Maybe you’ll laugh until you cry or cry until you laugh.” Or maybe you’ll just get lost in community. –JH
INFO: Tue, 7pm, Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. $15-$25. 510.525.5099.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10
JAZZ
A KAT EDMONSON CHRISTMAS
What’s the recipe for a great Christmas record? Swing for the joy, warmth for the memories and a dash of movie-magic charm. Kat Edmonson has all three, and she builds off her beloved Holiday Swingin’! album to turn seasonal standards into stylish, story-rich performances with the retro-pop sensibility of a time-traveling Hollywood jazz club. Onstage, she treats familiar tunes less like museum pieces and more like little films, reshaped with unexpected phrasing, wry humor and that unmistakable, luminous voice. –SBB
Tomate Cafe’s sandwich board sign, perched for so many years on Sixth Street, is gone. When the status of Tomate comes up in an online search, the words “permanently closed” are highlighted in red. The 2025 closures of Tomate and Crixa Cakes are reminders that even long-time fixtures of our culinary ecosystem can dissolve. That state of flux does have an upside. When the next wave of restaurateurs arrive with their fledgling brands, they bring an enthusiastic dose of optimism to their new enterprises.
In Tomate’s place, Jennie and Benji Smith have opened Uqbar. The cafe’s name is a Borgesian reference to the late author’s short story, Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius. For the first time ever, the Bay Area’s food media teams have been scrambling to pair “Jorge Luis Borges” and “hotly anticipated” in the same sentence. Benji, the chef on the team, told me that after he read the story the word Uqbar stayed with him. The sound of this imaginary realm also carried Mediterranean associations with it, a good fit for the food they decided to make.
“When we say ‘Mediterranean,’we mean the Mediterranean diet,” Benji said. “We want to be produce-forward—whole grains, lean meats, olive oil.” The menu also draws inspiration from the Middle East, with “all those amazing foods, cultures and the region’s hospitality.” Menu highlights are listed on the chalkboard inside, but at this early stage the most substantial dishes are shakshuka ($17), a breakfast plate ($14-$17) and a hummus plate ($14-$18).
Each option can be ordered by combining a variety of different ingredients. The hummus plate includes a house-made flatbread served as: classic, with tahini, a green herb sauce and chickpeas; breakfast, with a boiled egg, roasted potatoes, sumac onions and herbs; or the one I tried, with lamb. The kitchen arranges every component on the plate like an edible puzzle. On one side are pickled onions draped with dill and parsley. On the other, fatty pieces of crisped lamb nestled against green herb sauce. All of it is piled high on whipped hummus.
Uqbar uses Acme bread to make sandwiches, but Benji bakes the flatbread in-house. His first job in the restaurant industry was at a pizza place. During college, he interned at Bread Furst in Washington, D.C.
More recently he worked as the sous chef at Nichole Accettola’s Kantine in San Francisco. His primary responsibilities there were in the savory kitchen. “But they have a big bakery program where I would pop over, help out and learn some stuff,” he said. “But this is my first time running our tiny little bakery program.”
When I ate lunch at Uqbar, I recognized a familiar face behind the counter. Jennie Smith, who runs Uqbar with her husband, said they offered employment to all five of Tomate’s former employees. Four of them stayed on. “That group of people together has over 50 years of experience working here so I feel really grateful that the staff came along,” she said.
Describing their shared vision for a cafe, Jennie said they are aiming for a cozy, living-room vibe. “We wanted to do breakfast and lunch in a more intimate setting,” she said. “The outdoor space is so gorgeous here. I love that it’s off the street. It feels secluded and really welcoming.”
To transform Tomate into Uqbar, the Smiths kept “lots of the lovely architectural features,” but did some decluttering. “We brought in a bunch of plants,” Benji said. “We got some new tile work, but we tried to keep what was great about it and just add some nice touches.”
After a successful grand-opening weekend at the end of November, Benji said it was hectic because they sold out of some items. “But we were really stoked,” he said. “It meant we were bringing a lot of people in.” To Uqbar, an imaginary place made real by a mountain of chopped-up chickpeas.
Uqbar, 2265 Fifth St., Berkeley. Tue-Thu 8am to 2pm; Fri-Sat 8am to 8pm. 510.858.1999. uqbarthecafe.com
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Here are two of your birthrights as an Aries: to be the spark that ignites the fire and the trailblazer who doesn’t wait for permission. I invite you to embody both of those roles to the max in the coming weeks. But keep these caveats in mind: Your flame should provide light and warmth but not rouse scorching agitation. Your intention should be to lead the way, not stir up drama or demand attention. Be bold and innovative, my dear, but always with rigorous integrity. Be sensitive and receptive as you unleash your gorgeous courage. In my vision of your future, you’re the wise guide who inspires and includes, who innovates and reflects. You fight for interdependence, not dominance.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here’s a key theme: microdoses of courage. You don’t need to summon splashy acts of epic heroism. Subtle rebellions against numbness and ignorance may be all that’s required. Your understated superpowers will be tactful surges of honesty and gentle interventions in challenging transitions. So be brave in ways that feel manageable, Taurus. Don’t push yourself to be a fearless warrior. The trembling truth-teller is your best role model. As an experiment to get started, say yes to two things that make you nervous but don’t terrify you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your inner ear contains three canals filled with fluid. They act like gyroscopes, telling you which way is up, how fast you’re moving and when to stop. Your ability to maintain your balance depends on their loyal service. Without them, you couldn’t orient yourself in space. Moral of the story: You stabilize yourself through constant adjustment. Let’s make this a metaphor for your current assignment. Your ability to remain poised, centered and grounded will require ongoing adaptations. It won’t work to remain still and fixed. You will have to keep calibrating and adapting.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Let’s extol the value of productive confusion: the disorienting state when your old maps no longer match the territory. Your beloved certainties shudder and dissipate, and you don’t know what you don’t know. This isn’t a failure of understanding, but the ripe precondition for a breakthrough. The caterpillar doesn’t smoothly or instantly transition into a butterfly. First it dissolves into chaotic goo and simmers there for a while. Conclusion: Stay in the not-knowing a little longer.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Coffee from Java, orchids from Iceland and grapes from Vesuvius, Italy: What do these bounties have in common? They flourish in the extra-fertile soil created by volcanic eruptions. The molten lava that initially leveled everything in its path later cooled and became a repository of rich nutrients. I expect a milder version of this theme for you, Leo. Events and energies that at first cause disruption will eventually become vitalizing and even healing. Challenges will lead to nourishment.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Gardeners in Japan spend years training bonsai trees to grow into elegant shapes. The process requires extraordinary patience, close listening and an intimate relationship with an ever-changing life form. I invite you to approach your current projects with this mindset. You may feel tempted to expedite the growth that’s unfolding. You might feel pressure to “complete” or “optimize.” But the flourishing of your work depends on subtle attunement, not brute progress. Pay tender attention to what wants to emerge slowly. Tend to it with care. Time is your collaborator, not your enemy. You’re weaving lasting beauty.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The Swedish concept of lagom means “not too much, not too little, but just right.” It suggests that the best option may be in the middle rather than in the extremes. Yes, sometimes that means an uneasy compromise. But more often, it’s how the power and virtue come fully alive and thrive. Many people don’t like this fact of life. They are fixated on the delusion that more is always better. In the coming weeks, Libra, I invite you to be a connoisseur of lagom. To do it right, you may have to strenuously resist peer pressure and groupthink.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In Bangkok markets, elderly women sell caged birds. Why? For the specific purpose of releasing them. Those who buy a captive sparrow or dove immediately open the cage door and let the creature fly away in a symbolic gesture of compassion and spiritual aspiration. It’s a Buddhist act believed to bring good karma to the person who sets the bird free. I invite you to imagine yourself performing this sacrament, Scorpio, or perhaps conducting an actual ritual with the equivalent purpose. Now is a fun and fertile time to liberate an outdated belief, a conversation you keep replaying or a version of yourself that’s no longer relevant. Take your cue from the signs that appear in the Bangkok market: Letting go is a form of prayer.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The world’s oldest known musical composition is the Hurrian Hymn No. 6. It was discovered etched on clay tablets in Syria, dating back to 1400 BCE. When finally decoded and performed, it revealed harmonies that still resonate with modern listeners. Your projects in the coming months could share this timeless quality, Sagittarius. You will have an enhanced power to bridge your past and your future. A possibility you’ve been nurturing for months or even years may finally ripen into beautiful completion. Watch for opportunities to synergize tradition with innovative novelty or deep-rooted marvels with sweet, breezy forms of expression.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m taking a risk here by urging you cautious Capricorns to at least flirt with the Finnish tradition of drinking alcohol at home alone in your underwear with no intention of going out. I’m certainly not encouraging you to get so hammered that you can’t safely wander outdoors. My point is to give yourself permission to celebrate your amazing, mysterious, beautiful life with a bout of utterly uninhibited relaxation and totally indulgent contentment. I authorize you to be loose and free and even slightly irresponsible. Let your private pleasures reign supreme.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the Quechua language, the word ayllu refers to a kinship system not just of people, but of animals, ancestors, dreams and nature. To be aligned with one’s ayllu is to live in reciprocity, in the ongoing exchange of care and meaning among the entire web of life. “We belong to what we love,” the Quechua elders say. Aquarius, I believe you’re being asked to focus on your ayllu. Who or what comprises your circle of belonging? Which beings, places and unseen presences help weave the pattern of your treasured destiny? Whom do you create for—not as audience, but as kin who receive and answer your song? As you nourish your connections in the coming weeks, pay special attention to those who respect your idiosyncrasies. It’s not your birthright to simply fit in. Your utter uniqueness is one of your greatest gifts, and it’s your sacred duty to give it.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Yoruba cosmology, the divine spirit Oshun presides over rivers, love, beauty and sweet water. But her sweetness isn’t a weakness. It’s a sublime power, as evidenced by how her waters once restored life to the barren earth when every other force had failed. You Pisceans are now channeling extra strong currents of Oshun energy. Your tenderness is magnetic. Your imaginative flourishes are as valuable as gold. And your love, when rooted in your sovereign self-respect, is healing. But don’t let your nurturing be exploited. Choose wisely where you share your bounty. The right people will honor your flow, not judge it or try to change it. Your duty is to be uninhibitedly yourself and let your lyrical truths ripple freely.
Amidst political backlash, censorship and the denial of gender identities, librarians may be the most undersung heroes of democracy. American filmmaker Kim A. Snyder’s 2025 documentary, The Librarians, shines a light on that.
This summer the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)—schools for the children of military families—banned nearly 600 book titles which collectively address topics like racism, the underbelly of patriarchy and white supremacy, feminism and gender identity, in compliance with Donald Trump’s executive order.
In a separate executive order, the DoDEA was mandated to refrain from promoting “un-American” ideologies, gender ideology or documents that suggest that the founding of the U.S. was racist or sexist. In other words, it was told to eliminate books and curriculum that told the truth about American History.
Since Donald Trump’s second term began, First Amendment rights that were once taken for granted have deteriorated, making it possible for college students who’ve spoken out against the war in Gaza to lose their visas and face deportation. Librarians who highlight books about LGBTQ+ issues or host a drag queen story time also face serious backlash.
What’s it like to be a librarian in this political moment when transgender individuals are being vilified, the racism embedded in American history is being sanitized and the literature that may affirm a teenager’s identity or give them a literary safe place to land is being removed from the shelves? Snyder’s documentary takes on those questions and gives us a taste of just how radical the act of library work has become in this antiwork moment. In preparation for the film’s local arrival next week, we talked with real-life librarians in the East Bay to get the real scoop.
Bill Kolb has worked in Bay Area libraries for the last two decades and has been based at Berkeley Public Library for the past five. The way Kolb sees it, libraries are the most accessible democratic spaces that exist in American society. And librarians are, in a way, not just informants on books and topics but practitioners of radical hospitality.
“Public libraries are one of the last great bastions of democracy in this country,” Kolb says. “There aren’t many places left where anyone—everyone—can go and spend the day without having to pay for or buy anything.”
In a library, people who may not have another place to go can charge their phones, check their email or find a cozy, dry and warm reprieve with a book—without being asked to leave or having the police called on them. On top of that anyone can ask any question and, according to Kolb, be met with not just answers, but cited, vetted, real information.
Kolb says a big part of his job as a librarian is to defend the intellectual freedom of everyone and help the public wade through the overwhelming amount of information, some of which pushes people outside of their comfort zones.
“An informed electorate is powerful. It is also dangerous,” says Kolb, “if you’re the sort of person who would like to tell people what to think or how to live or how to vote. We’re here to sort of hold the line. The library is a place you can go to learn about things that make some folks uncomfortable—maybe even you.”
Kolb finds it heartbreaking to see campaigns to remove books from shelves or to witness librarians facing backlash over public programming they offer.
“[A book being removed from a shelf may] mean thatsome kid who really needs to see themselves represented in their school library’s collection, or some teen who is struggling with some personal thing that they are too scared or embarrassed to talk to their parents or friends about, ends up missing out on maybe the one thing that could have helped them muddle through,” Kolb says.
Kolb believes there is in fact a win-win scenario that has the potential to satisfy those who want to shelter themselves or their families from information that may make them uncomfortable and those who want to learn and see themselves represented on the page. “If you don’t want your kids to check out books or gain information about certain topics, that’s a conversation for you and your family,” Kolb says. “Don’t presume to answer that question for anyone else.”
Kolb says that working in Berkeley puts him in a utopian hub where he’s far less likely to endure the backlash that colleagues in other parts of the country face. On the other hand, even Berkeley has to be well prepared to face the pervasive transphobia that runs rampantly across the country before certain programs.
“Every time we schedule a drag-queen story time, we have to build out a contingency plan just in case the Proud Boys show up,” Kolb says. “We’ve also had to adjust our reconsideration policy so that folks in other states can’t bombard us with email requests to remove content from our collections.”
Allegra Porter works in the Contra Costa County library system and is currently at the Clayton branch. Porter hasn’t encountered the Proud Boys, but she knows what it’s like to have protesters show up to oppose drag queen storytime when she and her colleagues have offered it. Still, she says, it’s worth it.
“I’m thrilled when we can celebrate reading through the glamorous art of drag,” Porter says. “It’s about representation and introducing kids to someone they might not have met before.”
Porter hopes that kids who don’t see themselves represented in the library can see themselves in storytime and even performances. When she learned about potential library boycotts of the programming, Porter felt a little disheartened. “I hope they change their minds,” Porter said. “Libraries are for everyone.”
Robyn Sweet feels lucky to serve as the teen librarian in the North Berkeley branch of the public library—not in spite of the diversity of topics and people she works with, but because of them.
“All day long, I get to interact with people who are different from me,” says Sweet, “whether it’s their politics, where they grew up, what holidays they celebrate or what their family looks like. You might be surprised by how much you have in common with someone you would otherwise never interact with.”
In listening to the teens and the parents she serves, Sweet says it’s her job as a librarian to meet them where they’re at. Sweet gets lots of requests for books about LGBTQ+ topics, both fiction and nonfiction.
“Teens love to read about characters that mirror their own backgrounds and are going through similar challenges and experiences,” Sweet says. “If you take that away, you are taking away a healthy way to process their own experiences and learn about others who are different from them.”
The way Sweet sees it, differences should be celebrated, not hidden or removed from shelves or stages.
“The fact that we are all different and bring our own unique perspectives is really what makes our community a vibrant and joyful place to live,” Sweet says. “We don’t live in a homogenous world, and it’s important that our stories reflect that.”
‘The Librarians’ screens Dec. 4-5 at Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St., San Francisco. A screening and Q&A session with Kim Snyder at Rialto Elmwood Theater in Berkeley on Dec. 8 is already sold out; on Jan. 15 at 6pm, the theater hosts a benefit screening for the Oakland Literacy Coalition followed by a panel discussion with Oakland teacher-librarians. More info at: thelibrariansfilm.com.
Those who spend any time in the East Bay arts orbit already know Grey Starr—iconic front person of Pretty Frankenstein, goth auntie of Alameda and a shape-shifting creative whose output seems to multiply the moment one looks away.
One minute they’re fronting a band, the next they’re dropping albums rooted in Filipino myth. And now, in a classic Grey Starr move, they’ve collaborated on a comic book with Bryan Massie called Unggoy—and composed an accompanying soundtrack, naturally.
The project began, as many great Bay Area collaborations do, in the unlikely crucible of a break room. Starr had been carrying the seed of a comic idea for years but couldn’t find an illustrator whose enthusiasm matched their vision or budget. Then a coworker, Bryan Massie, overheard Starr spitballing concepts and volunteered to sketch a few characters. Those sketches turned into pages, those pages eventually turned into a full-blown comic.
The title Unggoy comes from the Tagalog word for “monkey,” and the story follows a family of simian vigilantes protecting their town from threats both earthly and otherworldly. Starr describes it as “borderline Ninja Turtles,” filtered through the lens of Filipino mythology, queer identity, anti-fascist resistance, and the anime and manga that helped shape their imagination. Issue one debuted a couple of months ago; issue two is well underway.
Starr brought Massie a pantheon of Filipino gods, monsters and spirits, and Massie responded with wildly detailed illustrations that pushed beyond the minimalist black-and-white manga aesthetic Starr initially imagined. The collaboration became a kind of creative call-and-response: Starr describing creatures ripped from myth—like the “manananggal,” a vampiric figure who detaches its torso to fly—and Massie returning with fever-dream versions rendered in kinetic motion.
“I’d never written a comic before,” Starr admits, noting how differently the form works compared to music or screenwriting. Every panel’s action had to be intentional. Every gesture had to be chosen. But that meticulousness, and the year-long process behind it, shaped something that feels uniquely theirs.
Massie, for his part, embellished the mythology in ways that surprised even Starr—adding visual poetry, symbolic details, and flourishes that extended the emotional and metaphysical stakes of the story. One divine character, the moon god Buwan, appears partially veiled in a halo of light—Massie’s own addition, which Starr immediately recognized as the perfect extension of the original myth.
What emerged from this collaboration is not just a comic but a community artifact. Coworkers followed its progress, cheering Starr and Massie on as pages were finished in real time.
And then there’s the soundtrack. Starr composed a six-track album—mostly in Tagalog—to accompany the comic, complete with an instrumental designed to sync atmospherically to key story beats.
“Writing a comic, for me, is something like my journeys into standup comedy or making short films,” Starr says. “These other forms were just in the ‘something I’d like to do eventually’ category until I had to try them out. I’ve wanted to make a comic—with this character and this folklore specifically—for years, and it’s so amazing to see it happening. This is really just the beginning, too.”
American comedian and composer Oscar Levant once said, “There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.” That statement resounds with American ingenuity. Afterall, nobody thought peanut butter and chocolate would go well together until Henry Reese combined the two.
But there’s one combo that nobody saw coming: Manchester’s gloomy-but-danceable the Smiths with New Jersey’s devil-locked innovators of horror punk, the Misfits. Introducing Los Angeles’ the Mismiths.
Like many other strokes of genius, the Mismiths started as a joke between two old friends.
“It was me and my drummer from my other band,” said singer Steven Gorrissey. “We were coming up with terrible mash-up names just trying to make each other laugh. He said, ‘Mismiths’ and I thought it was so funny! So it stuck in my head …”
Fast forward several months later when, while messing around at band practice, Gorrissey jumped on the mic and began singing like British pop star Morrissey.
“But no one laughed,” Gorrissey said. “They were like, ‘Yo, we didn’t know you could do that!’ and I didn’t know I could do that!”
Then he remembered the name Mismiths, and it all clicked. Gorrissey called upon a friend who could sing like the Misfits’ first singer, Danzig, and the band booked their first show on Oct. 28, 2015. The Mismiths began as a side gig, something the friends could get together to play a couple of times a year.
However, the band gained popularity in the L.A. scene faster than they could say, “How soon is now?”
“All of a sudden we were booking shows in July and August. Like, what the hell’s going on?” Gorrissey said.
That was around 2019, and the band hasn’t slowed down since. In 2021 they released their debut full-length, Every Night Is Like Halloween. In September they released Dead to Me.P. a five-track EP of originals with titles like, “You’re Dead to Me and I Don’t Shag the Dead,” and “Stop Asking For Saturday Night.”
“We only do Danzig-era Misfits,” Gorrissey said. “And at almost every show someone yells out ‘Saturday Night’ [a later Misfits song with their second vocalist, Michael Graves]. Our bass player was writing a song in the vein of ‘Saturday Night,’ and I said, ‘No, what if we sang ‘Stop asking for Saturday Night?’”
By combining the riffs of the Smiths’ Johnny Marr and the Misfits’ Doyle Von Frankenstein with the vocals of Morrissey and Dangzig, the Mismiths create a unique—and hilarious—sound. Adding to the sweet hybrid moments is the band’s stage show with each member in full skeletal corpse paint in true Misfits style. Band members playfully satirize their inspirations with banter between songs before going into true-to-form covers and original tunes like “The Show Has Been Cancelled” and “Fake it Till You Fake it.”
But don’t for a second think the Mismiths are just a joke, because that would be a miserable lie. Give their recordings a listen and it’s clear these guys are not only fans but also incredibly dedicated musicians who break through the static age to absolutely nail two sounds that shouldn’t mix yet somehow do.
I know, because I’m a convert. While I love the Misfits, I’ve never been a Smiths fan and even less of a Morrissey fan. However, it only took one Mismiths show for me to start singing along to “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” the next time I heard it on the radio. They got peanut butter in my chocolate and heaven knows I’m miserable now.
Just kidding. But at least I’m not the only one.
“That happens to us a lot,” Gorrissey said. “Danzig is one of the best punk rockers as far as writing and singing. Then you dive into Morrissey’s lyrics and he’s one of the best lyricists of all time. Whether you like them [as people] or you don’t, you gotta respect that.”
The Mismiths perform at 8:30pm Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany, ivyroom.com. Also performing: The Dancing Horses (Echo & The Bunnymen) and Almost Heaven (Just Like Heaven plays the Cure and ’80s classics).
Published in cooperation between Paradise Media and the East Bay Express
Imagine playing your favorite casino games for free—but with a chance to win real money. If this sounds like a dream come true, let’s explore the best sweepstakes casinos.
Our top pick is WOW Vegas, crowned as the best sweepstakes casino destination because of its three days of extra free coins, 400 popular games and instant withdrawal times. Additionally, we’ll cover more social casinos that offer free sweeps and gold coins, plus popular casino classics, fast payouts and mobile apps.
Established in 2022, WOW Vegas is a popular sweepstakes casino that quickly rose to fame.
WOW Vegas is known for its high-quality games, a nice welcome bonus and great mobile compatibility, so you are definitely going to have a good time playing here—for free.
Online Casino Games: 4.9/5
WOW Vegas exclusively focuses on slot machines, which means you won’t be able to find any table or live dealer games here.
While that will certainly be a dealbreaker for some, we couldn’t help but list it as our No. 1 for its amazing sweepstakes casino slots library.
Everything a slots fan could wish for is present here—and then some.
This includes 400 reel titles to scroll through. To keep things exciting, this sweepstakes casino collaborates with some of the most reputable iGaming developers, including Betsoft and Pragmatic Play.
For high-quality visuals, bonus features and soundtracks, we recommend Sugar Rush, Candy Stars and Thai Blossom.
And the best part?
All of these titles are optimized for smartphones, so you can enjoy them on the go.
Bonuses and Promotions: 4.9/5
New players can get three days of extra free coins at WOW Vegas.
Make sure you follow its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, so you don’t miss out on social media promotions that this sweepstakes casino offers from time to time.
Banking: 4.9/5
You can choose from diverse options like Skrill, Trustly, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and Apple Pay to purchase WOW Coins.
If you wish to redeem real cash prizes, you have to have at least 100 sweeps coins in your personal account’s balance.
Before making transactions, you need to have your account verified. The average processing time is up to 48 hours, but you can expect your transactions to be processed sooner in most cases.
User Interface: 4.9/5
Without signing up first, the WOW Vegas Casino homepage may seem a bit cluttered.
But thankfully, once you log in, you’re met with an intuitive design of this sweepstakes casino. It’s easy to find and play your favorite games, claim bonuses and make purchases from desktop or mobile.
2. Rolla—Best Sweepstakes Casino with Daily Bonuses
Pros:
Welcome bonus of $10 free coins
Bonuses offered every day
Always free to play
900-plus slot titles
1,000s of social casino games
Responsible gaming tools
Cons:
Few free coins
Limited access for non-members
Rolla is one of the best online social casinos because it emphasizes responsible social gaming. To help you stay on track, it provides handy gaming management tools that allow you to set spending limits or take a break for a while.
Online Casino Games: 4.8/5
Rolla might be a new sweepstakes casino, yet it doesn’t lag behind when it comes to game selection. There are thousands of social games in the library, with more than 900 being slot titles.
For example, you can spin the reels while playing Le Bandit, Quick Wins Diamond 7’s, Flame and Fortune, Voltage Blitz Egypt and 3 Coin Volcanoes.
And it’s not all about quantity because the quality is also covered, thanks to reputable game providers such as Koala Games, Edge Labs, Rubyplay, Hacksaw Gaming, Betsoft and 3Oaks.
Bonuses and Promotions: 4.8/5
Rolla features a sweepstakes casino no deposit bonus in the form of $10 worth of free coins to welcome you to the platform.
Better yet, you can eventually earn rewards by being part of the VIP program and claim bonuses from the site each day.
Banking: 4.8/5
Ready to deposit or withdraw social casino real money? You can take your pick from conventional fiat methods like bank transfers, credit or debit cards and e-wallets.
On the flip side, Rolla does not currently support any cryptocurrencies, which means you’ll have to wait a bit more for payouts.
User Interface: 4.8/5
Rolla’s homepage is bright and attractive. However, it’s admittedly not as intuitive as other sweepstakes websites.
The information about games and other aspects of this virtual currency casino are quite limited, but you can access everything once you have already registered and signed in to the site
3. Spree—Best Sweepstakes Casino with New Games Weekly
Pros:
Sleek, classy visual design
25,000 gold coins package plus 2.5 Spree coins
New games added every week
Match bonuses for coin purchases
Free to play feature
Daily promos and raffle prizes
Cons:
Limited payment options
Email support only
If you like the novelty of the latest games, Spree might be the best social sweepstakes casino for you. After all, it showcases fresh additions to its library of social titles each week. What’s more, you don’t need to purchase anything to start playing.
Online Casino Games: 4.7/5
There is a wide variety of slot games you can choose from at Spree. Some examples are Book of Flames, Kings of Crystals, 3 Pots of Lunar Wolf Hold & Win and Celestial Flame Coin Rise.
You can also join live dealer sweeps games at the Real Dealers Table, where you can play Grand Bonus Blackjack, Auto Roulette, Grand Bonus Baccarat and Gravity Roulette.
Bonuses and Promotions: 4.7/5
When you sign up, Spree welcomes you with 25,000 gold coins paired with 2.5 Spree coins. If you buy coins at $9.99, this casino sweepstakes site will triple its worth and grant you 30,000 gold coins, plus 30 Spree coins.
Beyond this, you can look forward to cash prize sweepstakes raffles, tournaments and daily deals as you keep playing on this platform.
Banking: 4.7/5
If you’re planning to deposit or withdraw sweepstakes casino real money, be aware that the only payment methods you can use are major credit and debit cards.
This might be quite limiting if you prefer e-wallets and cryptos, yet these are solid and secure fiat options nonetheless.
User Interface: 4.7/5
Spree is one of the eye-catching social casinos you can visit online. It strikes a great balance between attractiveness and simplicity
What’s more, the games are clearly displayed based on categories, such as slot games, live casino games, and new games.
4. Stake.us—Best Online Sweepstakes Casino for Slots
Pros:
300-plus sweepstakes casino games
Reputable brand
Races for 50 M gold coins
Daily login bonuses
On-site chat bar
24/7 customer support
Allows crypto payments
Excellent mobile compatibility
Cons:
Can’t browse all games without an account
Some titles not available in certain countries
If you want access to the absolute best sweepstakes online casino, look no further than Stake.us.
It has blown us away with its game library full of popular titles you’d find at “regular” casino sites, huge prize pools and an easy-to-use system for your gold and sweeps coins.
Casino Games: 4.6/5
You can discover around 300 high-quality titles at Stake.us. The list covers all the popular categories, including online slots, table games, live dealers and scratch cards.
If you’re looking to spin the reels, we recommend the well-known and loved Sweet Bonanza by Pragmatic Play. Want to try something you haven’t tried before instead? Check out the Vending Machine slot by Hacksaw Gaming.
Those who crave more action can opt for live dealer games, where you’ll find everything, from roulette to online blackjack and Sic Bo.
But where the real fun lies is with the Stake Originals category.
You guessed it by the name—these are exclusive social casino games you will only be able to find at Stake.us, and a few highlights include Stake Plinko, Crash and Dragon Tower.
Bonuses and Promotions: 4.6/5
Get started at the Stake.us sweepstakes casino and participate in a captivating raffle, where a generous 50 million gold coins await the lucky winners.
Yep, you read that right. But the fun does not stop there …
In addition, you can engage in thrilling slot battles, where prizes worth a whopping 5,000 Gold Coins are up for grabs. Looking for more? Test your skills in the daily races where you can win up to $50 million gold coins.
For those seeking instant promos, Stake Cash offers a path to secure guaranteed cash prizes, all without the need for any purchase.
Banking: 4.6/5
Unlike traditional online casinos, Stake.us does not require you to make real money purchases in order to play games.
That said, it’s important to know you still have the opportunity to buy gold coins in case you run out of them.
You can make purchases using some of the most popular digital coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin, as well as standard payment methods like credit cards.
When it comes to buying gold coins in a single transaction, the maximum stands at $300, while the daily cap for purchases goes up to $2,000.
User Interface: 4.6/5
Stake.us comes with a modern-looking website where you can easily switch between traditional online and social casino games.
When you visit a specific category, you can use a special search bar to look for your favorite titles.
At the right side of the page, you will see a chat bar where you can talk with other players like you and become a part of the vibrant community. Should you ever need help, you can easily locate the live chat button at the bottom of the page to get assistance at any time of the day.
5. Funrize—Best Social Gaming Site for Mobile Games
Pros:
125,000 free coins
Dedicated iOS and Android applications
Around 100 games
Great user interface
24/7 live chat feature
Cons:
Design a bit bland
Some other sites have more games
Funrize has a lot of attractive features that you might enjoy, but it’s the 125,000 gold coins deal and a dedicated mobile app that caught our attention.
Games: 4.5/5
While there are a lot of gaming sites that offer more titles in their portfolios, Funrize offers a little bit of everything.
It’s kind of a jack-of-all-trades (and master-of-’em-all) deal.
You’ll discover an assortment of new, jackpot and fish games—all packed with captivating graphics.
What we enjoyed about this social site the most is its transparency.
You can check out each game’s comprehensive overview, such as volatility, RTP, multipliers, features and more.
Promotions: 4.5/5
Funrize ensures that you’re in for a range of fantastic perks and surprises from the get-go.
Your journey starts with a generous promo of 125,000 free coins.
Funrize also has a signature deal you won’t find on other sites—the Funrize Wheel.
With this promotion, you can test your luck and win special awards and prizes. There also is the opportunity to participate in tournaments, adding even more excitement to your Funrize experience.
Banking: 4.5/5
The site supports Visa, Discover, Mastercard, Trustly and Apple Pay.
The transactions are processed swiftly, with players promptly receiving their coins. To keep your personal information safe, Funrize requires you to go through the KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure.
User Interface: 4.5/5
Funrize has everything you might need for a comfortable gaming session.
Its website features high-quality visuals with modern details.
There are detailed instructions about how the games work, and even if you are unable to find the information you need, there’s a 24/7 live chat button at the right bottom of the page.
How We Picked the Best Social Casinos for Sweepstakes Games
Wondering how we chose which options to include in our list of sweepstakes casinos? Check out the factors that made a big difference below!
Social Casino Games
To find the best social and sweepstake casinos, we placed the biggest importance on the quality and diversity of their online casino game offerings.
Our aim was to find sweepstakes casinos that not only boasted an extensive selection but also catered to the diverse preferences of players. No matter if you’re looking to play slots, table games, bingo, or other unique titles with coins, there’s something for everyone here.
Bonuses and Promotions
Another aspect that affected our rankings of the best sweepstakes casino sites was the generosity of bonuses and promotions.
The best sweepstakes casinos on our list offer welcome packages, referral programs and daily quests to win sweeps and tournaments to keep the fun going for longer.
Banking
Our chosen top sweepstake casino sites offer a wide range of payment methods, from credit cards and cryptocurrencies to convenient e-wallets—ensuring that players can manage their funds with convenience and security.
User Interface
User-friendliness is a cornerstone of a positive gaming experience, and we carefully assessed the user interface of each casino. Navigational ease, clarity of information and overall design played a significant role in determining our rankings.
The best sweepstakes casinos stood out by offering welcoming and intuitive interfaces that allowed players to explore games, promotions and banking options effortlessly.
How Do Online Sweepstakes Casinos Work?
Sweepstakes casinos feature all the popular games that real money online casinos do. But instead of playing with traditional currency and real cash, you dive into the action using virtual tokens—Gold and Sweeps Coins.
Gold coins are virtual currency that each social casino has. You can only use gold coins to play games.
On the other hand, sweeps coins are your golden ticket to converting your online gaming winnings to real cash. You can use them to play games, just like gold coins, but with the chance to win actual cash prizes and gift cards.
But how do you acquire sweeps coins? You can’t just hit the local ATM, right? Well, that’s where the sweepstakes part comes in. When you sign up at a sweepstakes casino, you often get sweeps coins as a welcome gift.
From there on, you can buy bundles of gold coins that come with free sweeps.
Plus, you can enter various promotions, play games and even participate in social media contests to score more free sweeps coins.
What’s the Difference Between a Sweepstakes and a Social Casino?
Online social casinos exclusively use virtual coins (typically referred to as gold coins), which lack any real-world redemption value. In contrast, when a platform allows you to use sweepstakes coins alongside gold coins, which can be exchanged for valuable cash prizes, it is categorized as a sweepstakes casino.
How Do Coins Work at Sweepstakes Casino Sites?
Sweepstakes casinos use two key types of virtual coins—gold coins and sweeps.
Gold Coins
Gold coins are only used for fun. In other words, they’re tokens you can only use to play games.
So they have no monetary value—and when you’re using your gold coins balance at the social casino, you can’t convert it to real cash.
Sweeps Coins
Sweeps coins are a different type of virtual currency used in sweepstakes casinos, and with them, you can win real money.
You can accumulate sweeps cash by using various methods, including signing up, completing certain quests or even entering social media contests hosted by the casino.
Are Sweeps Coins Real Money?
No. Sweeps coins are virtual casino currencies, and as such, they aren’t the same as real money.
However, it’s important to note that you can exchange them for real money after you’ve earned sweeps from playing games, participating in contests and so on.
Can You Turn Gold Coins into Sweeps Cash?
No. Gold coins cannot be converted to sweeps coins and vice versa. However, you can buy bundles that have both gold and sweeps coins.
How Do I Get More Sweepstakes Coins?
Getting your hands on more coins is a breeze at sweepstakes casinos. First off, there are daily log-in bonuses and in-game rewards.
When you run out of deals, though, you can always make a purchase and acquire gold coins that come with sweeps.
What Games Are Available at Sweepstakes Casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos offer pretty much all types of games that you can find at real money online casinos.
Let’s take a look at the most popular ones.
Online Slots
Sweepstakes casino slots are one of the easiest games to play because of their mechanics. If you are just starting your journey, we advise you to try slot machines first, as they are simple and fun to play.
From classic fruit machines like Sweet Bonanza to jackpot slots bursting with exciting themes, bonus rounds and captivating storylines, the slot selection is nothing short of spectacular at sweepstakes casinos.
Table Games
If you fancy a game of skill and strategy, sweepstakes casinos have you covered, too. Challenge your wits with classic table games like blackjack, poker, roulette games and baccarat. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just looking to test your luck, these games offer endless excitement.
Scratch Cards
Sweepstakes casinos often feature scratch card games. Here, players need to uncover symbols and prizes with a swipe of their virtual card—as simple as it sounds.
Fish Games
Fish games are unlike traditional casino games, and they add an aquatic twist to your gaming experience. They are the staple of social casinos because not many traditional casino sites feature fish games.
The premise is simple: You cast your nets and watch the reels come alive with underwater adventures that promise big wins and thrilling gameplay.
Why Is WOW Vegas the Best Sweepstakes Casino?
Although the competition was high, WOW Vegas still managed to score the highest among all sweepstakes casinos. Let’s see why:
Millions of Players: Want a trusted brand? Then make sure to take a look at WOW Vegas; it has millions of active players.
Excellent Customer Support: Since not everyone is familiar with how sweepstakes casinos operate, it is crucial for social casino sites to have reliable customer service. Thankfully, WOW Vegas has a 24/7 live chat feature that you can use at any time of the day.
Easy-to-use Interface: Once you visit the WOW Vegas website, you will find it extremely easy to navigate to your favorite games, use free gold coins, or even purchase sweeps. The site looks equally beautiful on mobile.
Why Should I Play Games at Sweepstakes Casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos are becoming more and more popular each day, and there’s a good reason for it—not only one but several:
Social Interaction and Community: Sweepstakes casinos often feature social elements that allow players to interact with each other. Whether it’s through chat rooms, forums or multiplayer games, these platforms create an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share strategies and celebrate wins together.
Win Cash Prizes by Playing with Virtual Coins: One compelling reason to play games at sweepstakes casinos is the opportunity to win real cash prizes. While many online gaming platforms offer virtual rewards, sweepstakes casinos offer a chance to win substantial cash rewards.
Legal Environment: Sweeps casinos provide a legal and regulated platform for gaming enthusiasts to enjoy their favorite casino games. Unlike real money casinos, which may not be accessible in all regions, sweepstakes casinos often operate under a legal framework that allows players from various locations to enjoy playing. The legality of sweepstakes casinos varies with jurisdiction, so be sure to know what your area allows before playing.
Best Social and Sweepstakes Casinos—FAQs
Discover basic yet essential things you need to know to explore social casinos with confidence.
How Are Sweepstakes Casinos Different from Traditional Online Casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos, in essence, walk a fine line between gaming and, well, something that’s not quite gambling, though that idea is being challenged.
When you enter a sweepstakes casino, you’re not directly wagering your hard-earned cash. Instead, you’re using virtual currency, like gold coins or sweeps coins, to spin the reels and place your bets. There are ways to win real money, though, so in that sense, they are similar to traditional online casino sites.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Safe?
Yes, sweepstakes casino sites are completely safe as long as you’re playing at reputable and licensed ones.
You can check if the site owns an official license from a reputable gambling authority. Experienced players often share their experiences online—read these reviews, so you know that you are dealing with a safe site.
Can You Play for Real Money at Sweepstakes Casinos?
Absolutely. That’s the magic of sweepstakes casinos. While you’re not playing with traditional currency, the sweeps coins you earn can be transformed into real money.
They allow you to win cash prizes, all while enjoying the thrill of free sweepstakes games.
What is the Best Sweepstakes Casino?
Based on our rankings, WOW Vegas is the best sweepstakes casino right now. It has high-quality sweepstakes slots, table and live dealer games. Plus, there are millions of players trusting this site.
Is It Really Possible to Win at Sweepstakes Casinos?
Yes, winning at sweepstakes casinos is indeed possible. These platforms offer real cash prizes through games of chance.
While winning is not guaranteed and luck plays a significant role, players can increase their chances through strategy, persistence and skill in certain games like poker and blackjack.
Let’s Compare the 5 Best Sweepstakes Casinos Online
WOW Vegas: Do you love spinning the reels and matching the winning combos? Slots at WOW Vegas are for you. Enjoy three days of free extra spins here.
Rolla: If you want to maintain responsible gaming, Rolla has helpful tools for time outs and setting spending limits. Play over 900 slots social casino games and get a free $10 coin package while enjoying no purchase play.
Spree: On the lookout for new games? Spree has got you covered with additional titles every week. What’s more, you will receive 25,000 gold coins along with 2.5 Spree coins if you’re a new customer.
Stake.us: The best sweepstakes casino for slots. Start your journey by exploring more than 300 games, make purchases using cryptos and don’t forget to participate in the daily 50 million gold coin raffle.
Funrize: This is your go-to destination if you love playing games directly from your smartphone. Download high-quality apps for Android and iOS devices and make the best out of your welcome deal of 125,000 gold coins.
How to Join a Sweepstake Casino and Start Playing for Free
To start playing at sweepstakes casinos, you need to create a new account first. To do so, follow a step-by-step guide we created for our top pick—WOW Vegas.
Step 1: Create a New Social Casino Account
Visit the official website of WOW Vegas
Click the blue Register button and fill in your personal information
Read and accept the terms and conditions (T&Cs)
Click Register to proceed
Step 2: Verify Your Account
You should receive a message in your email inbox from WOW Vegas
Follow the confirmation link provided in it, so your account gets verified
Step 3: Claim the Daily Bonus and Start Playing!
After successfully logging into your account, visit the Promotions section
Start exploring your favorite casino games.
Tips for Finding the Best Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos might be easy to find, however, you might not always land your feet at a high-quality site.
With these tips, you will increase the chances of spotting the best option for you:
Research Licensing and Regulation: Ensure the sweepstakes casino is licensed and regulated by a reputable authority. Look for information on their website or contact customer support to confirm their compliance with legal standards.
Read Player Reviews: Seek out player reviews on independent websites and forums. Genuine feedback from other players can provide insights into the quality of games, customer support, and the overall reliability of the sweepstakes casino.
Check for Transparent T&Cs: Carefully review the terms and conditions, especially regarding bonuses, withdrawal policies, and wagering requirements. A trustworthy sweepstakes casino should have clear and transparent rules, helping you avoid unpleasant surprises.
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By the time the California Honeydrops hit Berkeley, the Oakland retro-soul combo will have picked up momentum rolling down the West Coast from Seattle on their Redwood Highway tour, which concludes with two nights at the UC Theatre. The tour follows on the heels of the band’s new acoustic album, Redwood Highway, which continues the Honeydrops unlikely ride since Polish-born trumpeter and vocalist Lech Wierzynski and percussionist Ben Malament launched the combo two decades ago busking at BART stations. These days the Honeydrops hold their own at international music festivals with a joyous sound that weaves blues, New Orleans jazz, gospel and jug band music together with classic soul. – ANDREW GILBERT
Wyldflower Arts transforms into a spiritual music vortex as master tabla and American drumset maestro Sameer Gupta is joined by longtime improvisor partner David Boyce on saxophone, bass clarinet, Moog synthesizer and live beats for a “masterclass in organic fusion.” Friday is the first night of a three-day residence by Gupta, whose artistry merges classic Indian raga with avant-garde jazz. Gupta and Boyce have collaborated for years, including in the Cosmic Renaissance project. As another cosmic voyager would say, “Free your mind.” – JANIS HASHE
San Diego duo Glass Spells make synth-pop with that ’80s neon shimmer. Producer and instrumentalist Anthony Ramirez stitches together sharp, kinetic beats and vintage-leaning synth lines, while vocalist Tania Costello cuts through the glow with crisp, mostly quiet melodies that feel intimately close, flickering between detachment and vulnerability. Their songs balance pulse and mood, and the pairing of retro textures with modern edge creates the restless propulsion that you dream of on the dance floor. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
Continue celebrating Thanksgiving with fiddler/singer/songwriter Laurie Lewis as she once again gives thanks in her annual Concert of Gratitude, which will feature bluegrass and folk artists from around the Bay. A Californian, Lewis has for four decades demonstrated that the Golden State can produce musicians who fully tap into the deep roots of traditional bluegrass, while bringing their own homegrown takes to the genre. Cali-Co (California Centric Country Music) will be there to help propel people to the dance floor. Work off the pumpkin pie with a few thankful wiggles and shakes. – JH
INFO: Sat, 8pm, Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. $43-$120. 510.525.5099.
SATURDAY, NOV. 29
DANCE THEATER
MOMIX
Moses Pendleton ventures down a movement-filled rabbit hole in Alice, his take on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. The Momix dancers are capable of every kind of athleticism imaginable—and many beyond the mind’s wildest, fantastical dreams—and never lose the thread of a work’s strong narrative or bold, abstract intentions. Production elements in a Pendleton piece are no less astonishing, so expect tremendously dramatic lighting, fearsome and fun costumes, clever props and state-of-the-art, fabricated, animated creations. Music and image projections bump up the surreality of the family-friendly show that springs from Carroll’s tale and burrows into fresh, new, underground territory. Performance on Sunday as well. – LOU FANCHER
INFO: Sat, 2pm and 8pm, Cal Performances at Zellerbach Hall, 101 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. $40-$92. 510.642.9988.
SUNDAY, NOV. 30
COMEDY
TOM SEGURA
Tom Segura’s latest tour finds him in full empire-builder mode. After five Netflix specials, a dark-comedy sketch series (Bad Thoughts), a book, multiple mega-podcasts and even his own vodka brand, he’s become a one-man entertainment economy. Plus, he’s in roughly a hundred viral podcast clips your friends keep sending you. His Come Together tour pushes his signature blend of dead-pan irritation and gleeful nihilism—but with a portion of ticket proceeds supporting nonprofit World Central Kitchen, he’s not all bad. – SBB
A skilled jazz drummer who can be found working with some of the region’s most incisive improvisers, Albany-based Bryan Bowman is also deeply versed in Balkan rhythms. He’s best known as a sideman, but over the years he’s honed a fascinating book of original pieces full of striking rhythmic and harmonic details, with playful side steps and feints in unexpected directions. He’s joined by one of his primary collaborators, the brilliant pianist Matt Clark, whom he credits with helping develop many of the tunes. Veteran bassist Doug Miller anchors the quartet, while ace reed player Harvey Wainapel, a master of contemporary jazz idioms and various Brazilian styles, holds down the frontline. – AG
INFO: Sun, 3pm, The Back Room, 1984 Bonita Ave., Berkeley. $20-$25. 510.654.3808.
SUNDAY, NOV. 30
METAL
PRIMITIVE MAN
Devoid. Bleak. Relentless. These are just some of the words that describe Denver’s sludge trio, Primitive Man. Formed in 2012 the band also released their debut album, Scorn, later that year. The music is brutally heavy, combining funeral doom, elements of black metal and a whole lot of existential dread. Throw in some nightmarish growls by vocalist Ethan Lee McCarthy and the result is music as cold as their hometown in winter. They are currently touring off their fifth studio LP, Observance, which just came out on Halloween. Prepare for a night of headbanging, hellraising and the heavy weight of Primitive Man. – MAT WEIR
The blues jazz-rock guitarist/singer/songwriter on the Electric Heel Records release adds to her prowess with tracks infused with R&B, disco, gospel, rhythmic funkiness, Latino flares and more. Most are highly danceable songs, along with inventive approaches to known tunes, such as the “hornucopia” that blasts forth with Popovic’s guitar licks in a supercharged arrangement of Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Sing along, move with the muse, get worked up with “Worked Up,” and witness a musician in full command of her sound and sensibilities. Not-to-miss tracks showing off her smoky vocals and smoking guitar-playing: “Dwell on The Feeling” and “Sisters and Brothers.” – LF
Not to be confused with one of the several other bands named Spleen, this Splean—spelled with an “A” as a nod to the Beatles—is the ’90s Russian rock band. Meaning “depression” in their native language, Splean formed in 1994 in Saint Petersburg. They have become one of Russia’s biggest bands and have opened up for legends like the Rolling Stones. Their sound is a mix of grunge and radio pop with a shoegaze attitude thrown in. They even landed a track on the Vladivostok FM channel in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Splean made headlines in Russia in 2022 when Russian authorities canceled one of their performances after the singer dedicated a song to artists fleeing Ukraine at the beginning of the war. – MW
Behind a new documentary, The Man Who Saves the World?, is a man who just might save the world. Or, more specifically, be the spark that saves the Amazon and thereby prevents the destruction of a region on which the world depends.
Patrick McCollum, 75, has led a life so weird and wonderful his biography reads like a fabrication. The...
The marquee above Oakland’s historic movie palace, the Grand Lake Theatre, read “MANTRAS AT MIDNIGHT, OCTOBER 29” in big red letters above the heads of everyone walking past. Two men dressed in black climbed up and down a ladder beneath the marquee as one of them, the short film’s writer, director and producer, Takai Ginwright, prepared for the next...
THURSDAY, DEC. 4
ROCK
THE MEATY OGRES
Let’s get this out of the way first: The Meaty Ogres is the best name for a band ever. So, it was a pleasant surprise to find that their debut album, Tunnington Tracks—released in September—was just as funky as their name. Soul, blues and psych are flooded through a funnel of rock. Songs like “Wish...
Tomate Cafe’s sandwich board sign, perched for so many years on Sixth Street, is gone. When the status of Tomate comes up in an online search, the words “permanently closed” are highlighted in red. The 2025 closures of Tomate and Crixa Cakes are reminders that even long-time fixtures of our culinary ecosystem can dissolve. That state of flux does...
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Here are two of your birthrights as an Aries: to be the spark that ignites the fire and the trailblazer who doesn’t wait for permission. I invite you to embody both of those roles to the max in the coming weeks. But keep these caveats in mind: Your flame should provide light and warmth but...
Amidst political backlash, censorship and the denial of gender identities, librarians may be the most undersung heroes of democracy. American filmmaker Kim A. Snyder’s 2025 documentary, The Librarians, shines a light on that.
This summer the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)—schools for the children of military families—banned nearly 600 book titles which collectively address topics like racism, the underbelly...
Those who spend any time in the East Bay arts orbit already know Grey Starr—iconic front person of Pretty Frankenstein, goth auntie of Alameda and a shape-shifting creative whose output seems to multiply the moment one looks away.
One minute they’re fronting a band, the next they’re dropping albums rooted in Filipino myth. And now, in a classic Grey Starr...
American comedian and composer Oscar Levant once said, “There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.” That statement resounds with American ingenuity. Afterall, nobody thought peanut butter and chocolate would go well together until Henry Reese combined the two.
But there’s one combo that nobody saw coming: Manchester’s gloomy-but-danceable the Smiths with New Jersey’s...
Published in cooperation between Paradise Media and the East Bay Express
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Social Eyes: Week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3 features the California Honeydrops, David Boyce & Sameer Gupta, Glass Spells, Laurie Lewis, MOMIX 'Alice,' Tom Segura, Bryan Bowman Quartet, Primitive Man, Ana Popovic, and Splean.
