Fright this way

From spirited teas to costumed cruises, the East Bay knows how to get spooky. Whether chasing jump scares, live music or just an excuse to wear something glittery and undead, there’s a Halloween happening for every kind of creature. Here’s where to trick, treat and dance with the dearly and weirdly departed this week.

Arts

RPSC Halloween Bash: Rock Paper Scissors Collective hosts a night of chilling ghost stories, ghastly zine making and ghoulish treats. Want to read a scary story or poem, sing a song, or lead a spooky craft? Email to**@***********ve.org with a brief bio, a link to your work or any questions. 6:30-9:30pm Thu, Oct. 30, at 2120 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. rpscollective.org

Halloween Magic & Mystery: An evening of magic, mentalism and mysterious feats with award-winning comedian and magician Sean Francisco and mind-reading sensation Jake Berg. $34. 7:30-10pm Fri, Oct. 31, at The Sound Room, 3022 Broadway. soundroom.org

Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary: Relive this cult classic onscreen, complete with the Bay Area’s premier live cast, Barely Legal! Sweethearts Janet and Brad stumble upon the flirtatious mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s bizarre abode during his annual Transylvanian science convention. Burlesque show included. $22 standing room only available. 8pm Fri, Oct. 31, at The UC Theatre, 2036 University Ave., Berkeley. theuctheatre.org

Family Fun

Driveway Follies features a crew of nine puppeteers performing a repertoire that celebrates and illustrates historic and cultural aspects of Halloween, some with an educational twist. Free. Dusk Thu, Oct. 30, and Fri, Oct. 31, at 3854 Greenwood Ave., Oakland. drivewayfollies.org

Celebrate Halloween on North Shattuck with face painting, lawn games, Polaroids, crafts, plus seasonal produce and artisan wares to help summon the Halloween spirit. Kids can pick up free reusable bags and then Trick-or-Treat at participating merchants, who’ll be offering special treats for all ages to enjoy. 3-6pm Thu, Oct. 30, at Shattuck Avenue and Vine Street, Berkeley.

10th Annual Haunted Howl-o-ween Party is a festive evening of dog- and family-friendly fun, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit The Animal Pad, a nonprofit focused on saving dogs from high-kill shelters and the streets of Mexico. Featuring a haunted hotel, photos with Cruella de Vil, a costume contest, a silent auction, goodie bags and more. 6:30-8pm Thu, Oct. 30, at Wag Hotels, 39 Fourth St., Oakland. waghotels.com/Haunted-Howloween-Party

Alameda Landing Annual Halloween Spooktacular is a free community celebration including a talented facepainter, an interactive balloon artist, festive music and free goodie bags for children (while supplies last). 4-6pm Fri, Oct.31, at Alameda Landing Shopping Center, 2700 Fifth St., Alameda.

Halleyween at Temescal Alley: Enjoy arts and crafts, trick or treating, exclusive sales and more. Free and all ages. 3-6pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Temescal Alley, 49th Street and Telegraph Avenue, Oakland.

Pumpkin Painting at Public Market Emeryville: This free, hands-on activity is perfect for all ages and includes up to 40 small pumpkins. Also happening: a Trick-or-Treat Trail with participating vendors throughout the day, and a Spooky Costume Contest in the evening. Free. 5-8pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Public Market Emeryville, 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville.

Halloween Friday Nights at OMCA with Ritmos Tropicosmos 31st annual Día de los Muertos community celebration with live music, DJ China G and gallery chats. Hands-on art making and trick-or-treating throughout the Garden. Dress up as your favorite artwork or artist and enter our costume contest for a chance to win prizes. Be sure to leave full-face coverings and costume weapons at home. Free. 5-9pm Fri, Oct. 31, at OMCA, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. museumca.org

Live Music and/or Dancing

Halloween Gala: Roaring Twenties allows revelers to support women in construction and step back in time to the era of flappers and jazz music. Festivities include themed cocktails, live music and dancing, and a costume contest for a chance to win fabulous prizes. 6-10pm Thu, Oct. 30, at the Bridge Yard, 210 Burma Rd., Oakland. tradeswomen.org

Rock en Español Halloween Party with ANIMA, playing a tribute to Pedro Suárez-Vértiz, Arena Hash and the best rock hits. Plus special guest El Gran Rex, a tribute to Héroes del Silencio and Enrique Bunbury; and DJ X. Costumes welcome but not required. Thu, Oct. 30, at Retro Junkie, 2112 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. retrojunkiebar.com

Magnificent Chill live-music event and costume party extravaganza includes performances by Chano Tizon, B. Taylor, Kaitlyn Williams, Emerald, Kyle Capricorn, Maleli Raiyawa and Corrie Tizon. Costume contest. 7-10pm Thu, Oct. 30, at Oeste Bar, 722 Clay St., Oakland. oesteoakland.com

Wild Halloween at Gilman Brewery with live music by Dirty Cello and Shake it Booty. A night of wild rock and fun dance tunes, and of course beer! There will be room to dance and comfortable seats to sit on and watch. Costumes welcome. $25 in advance, $30 at the door. 7-9pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Gilman Brewing Company, 912 Gilman St., Berkeley. gilmanbrew.com

23rd Annual Starry Plough Murder Ballads Bash: Songs of murder, misery, death and despair in this dark Halloween revue with the Out of Town Couple, Happy Clams, Plonsey Scheme, Loretta Lynch, Nashville Honeymoon, Z-Trane Electric Band, Lisa and the Franks, Berge and Kennedy, and the Third Thursday Band. Costume contest. 8:30-11:59pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Starry Plough Pub, 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. thestarryplough.com

Bolloween Ball Cruise and A Bollywood Halloween Costume Party: Includes three-hour sailing aboard a luxury yacht with unlimited appetizers, wine and champagne; and DJ Eric spinning Bollywood beats and party anthems. Costume contest. $59-150. 8:30pm Fri, Oct.31, and Sat, Nov. 1, at 2394 Mariner Square Dr., Alameda. sulekha.com/cruise

Fiebre De Cumbia—‘Dia de los Muertos’: Playing 100% Cumbia Mexicana; full bar. $35-45. 9pm Fri, Oct. 31-1:45am Sat, Nov. 1, at Chalaca Annexo, 428 3rd St., Oakland. lafuriachalacaoakland.com

Wicked VBZ Halloween Party: Presented by GOOD VBZ, with sounds by DJ Ignacia and Fibonacci. Hip-hop, R&B, Bay slaps; more than a party, organizers “believe in unity, inclusion and good energy.” 21+, costumes encouraged. $12.51+. 10pm-2am Fri, Oct. 31, at 7th West, 1255 Seventh St., Oakland. instagram.com/goodvbzparty

Halloween Fright Night Costume Cruise: Sail beneath the shadow of the Bay Bridge, where ghosts are said to roam and the water whispers secrets of the deep. Two eerie dance floors await, with DJ Slappy and DJ Bullo spinning a wicked mix of Halloween anthems and hip-hop slappers guaranteed to keep your bones rattling all night long. Costume contest. 21+. $34+. Early cruise 7:30-9:30pm or late-night cruise 10:30pm-1:30am Fri, Oct. 31, at Jack London Square, 2 Broadway, Oakland. partylifepresents.com

Misc.

Beyond the Veil: Herbs for Connecting with the Unseen. In this heart-centered class, herbalists Lia and Tara will dive deep into how gentle herbs can guide us in connecting with ancestors, plant spirits and the more-than-human world. Explore the sacred qualities of herbal allies like reishi, rosemary, yarrow and more—each one a doorway to deeper perception and communication beyond the veil. $40-80. 6:30-8:30pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Fork In the Path, Berkeley. forkinthepath.org

Death Sangha: In Death Sangha we will play with the fantasies of both eternalism and nihilism, and experiment with the awakening that lies beyond both. $45 suggested donation. 7-9pm Fri, Oct. 31, at The Berkeley Alembic, 2820 Seventh St., Berkeley. berkeleyalembic.org

Dragula—A Halloween Dinner Show: A night of fruity performances, top-tier food and eerie ambiance. Talented Queens and Kings will mesmerize with their stunning costumes and captivating acts. Costumes encouraged for a costume contest. $0-7. 6:30pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Portal, 1611 Second Ave., Oakland. portaloakland.com

Departed Spirits: We will celebrate the past, renew the present and imbibe the spirits. Come dressed as a lost soul, a dead idea, a forgotten moment, an out-of-print book, an ancient zeitgeist or an empty bottle of booze. We will have special cocktails, uncanny tales, valuable prizes, wrapped gifts and hard candy. $29+. 8-11:59pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Clio’s, 353 Grand Ave., Oakland. eventbrite.com

Halloween Bay Bingo: A 21+ event featuring a DJ, interactive games, chances to win prizes and a costume contest. Hosted by BLHSS. VIP tables available. $49+. 8:30-11:30pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Ciel Creative Space, 2611 Eighth St., Berkeley. cielcreativespace.com

Oakland Haunted Hop Bar Crawl 2025: Throw on your wildest costume and get ready to crawl through the city with hundreds of partygoers. Crawl stops include Penelope, Elbo Room, Jack London District Oakland and Little Bird Bar. $18+. 7:30pm-2am Fri, Oct. 31, at 555 12th St., Oakland. halloweenbarcrawl.org

Tea with Spirits at The Claremont Resort & Club: Sip on alcohol-infused blends with a bewitching twist, paired with hauntingly delicious bites. Raise your glass to a celebration where refinement meets the supernatural; perfect for chills, thrills and toasts with the otherworldly. 21+. $135+. 8-10pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Hilary Tenzing Room, 41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley. claremontresortandclub.com

See all local events in our online calendar at eastbayexpress.com/events-calendar.

The Creepy Crawlies are coming for you…

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On their debut EP, We Are The Creepy Crawlies, the band presents five short, sharp tunes that embody the band’s ethos. “I started the band with [bass player] Jeff Bones at the start of the pandemic shutdown,” said Sarah Coykendall, the only band member who’s been with the group since its beginnings. 

“Jeff was in the Eddie Haskells and the Mad Manics, but moved to Texas after we started the Crawlies,” she added. “We went through several players before becoming the quartet we are now.”

The current lineup—Fuzz Master on lead guitar; Thor Dsr on drums and Jenni Coppertone on bass—came together last year. Soon after, they headed into District Recording in San Jose to cut We Are The Creepy Crawlies. The band produced it themselves, with studio owner Ryan Perras engineering.

The tunes were recorded live, in one take, onto analog tape. “We wanted to capture the feel of a live Creepy Crawlies performance,” Master said. “Ryan’s very creative and has an arsenal of devices. We were able to add some spectacular analog effects to the vocals.”

“Little Creep,” an Eddie Haskells song, is a jolt of pure punk energy, driven by Master’s distorted guitar and the high-speed rhythms of Dsr and Coppertone. Coykendall screams a lyric that describes a self-destructive spree, with gleeful disregard for consequences. 

The momentum continues with “Creatures.” Coykendall shrieks the words over a blistering tempo, driven by feedback-drenched guitar and a galloping rhythm. The tag line is straight out of a second-rate horror movie: “Creatures are coming for you. We’re children of the night.”

Coykendall said, “Horror has been a huge love of mine. In my 20s, I became obsessed with horror films—both classic and campy. I’ve explored it through performance and art for years, and I love the metaphors it opens up. I’ve always loved creating those kinds of effects on stage.”

Early on, she said, the Crawlies performed in full undead makeup. But they slowly moved away from that look.

“Recently, we’ve been talking about how to bring the horror themes out in a different way,” Coykendall said. “Using visuals and atmospheric elements that feel more mysterious and elegant. Moving forward, we’re leaning more toward a Vincent Price-style vibe than camp.”

Since they’ve eschewed an obviously theatrical approach, the band is searching for other ways to bring out the implied darkness in their sound. “We talk a lot about the music being like a wall of energy and sound,” Coykendall said. “I wouldn’t say our show is ‘creepy’ in the way people might expect. It’s not about jump scares or theatrics. It’s more about the mood it creates. The intensity, the energy, the atmosphere—that’s where the creepiness lives.” 

‘WE ARE THE CREEPY CRAWLIES’ The current lineup—Fuzz Master on lead guitar; Thor Dsr on drums and Jenni Coppertone on bass—came together last year. (Photo by Brian Paine)

Since the reaction to the We Are The Creepy Crawlies EP was positive, the band returned to the studio, with Perras co-producing, to complete their still unnamed, debut album.

“The first single, ‘Graveyard Love/Killing Me,’ will come out later this year,” Master said. “The full length will be available next year. Our plan is to release the music as a series of singles on vinyl.”

The band will play local dates as they plan their next move. “We’ve been writing and writing and writing,” Coykendall said. “Honestly, we’re a completely different band than when I started. That’s not at all a slight to the former members, who helped build this.

“We’re carving out, and are continuing to carve out, something that’s uniquely us. ‘Us’ being the key word,” she continued.

“Playing music is a muscle you have to develop, until it’s a part of you and something you feel. This band is lucky to have everyone bringing the same intensity and conviction to the table. You can feel it in our songs and performances,” Dsr said.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last five years,” Coykendall said. “I’m surprised that we’ve managed to keep it going, even with all the member changes. I feel really lucky to be in a band where I genuinely love, respect and am constantly impressed by the people I get to be on stage with.”

Listen to ‘We are The Creepy Crawlies’ at thecreepycrawliessf.bandcamp. Follow the band at facebook.com/creepycrawliesband/ and instagram.com/creepycrawliesband.

Tried & Tested: 6 Best Sites to Buy Instagram Followers

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Published in cooperation between Buy Instagram Followers EZ and the East Bay Express

Buying Instagram followers gives you a straightforward way to boost your visibility and credibility in today’s crowded digital landscape. It lets professionals, brands and creators quickly build social proof and attract the kind of engagement that fuels long-term growth. It’s a practical shortcut for building a stronger presence and sparking authentic interaction—no need to wait months for momentum.

This method fits right in with modern marketing strategies that value speed and measurable results. Below, you’ll find the most trusted platforms, an overview of how the process works, and what you can look forward to when using follower services. Each section offers clear insights to help you make smart choices and get the most out of this approach for steady, visible progress.

1. Buzzoid

buzzoid

Buzzoid stands out as a top digital growth platform, offering Instagram followers, likes and engagement services. Since 2012, it’s built a reputation for fast delivery and steady results. Individuals, creators and businesses all use Buzzoid to grow their audiences while keeping their accounts safe.

With Buzzoid, you can buy real, active followers and get them delivered almost instantly. Its automated system processes orders quickly, and its customer support team is always available to help. Buzzoid’s long history and loyal customer base speak volumes about its credibility in social media marketing.

It also offers services for TikTok, making it a one-stop shop for cross-platform engagement. By focusing on authenticity and efficiency, Buzzoid has become one of the most recognizable names in the industry.

Pros

  • Over a decade of continuous operation since 2012
  • Instant delivery of real and active followers
  • 24/7 customer support with live chat assistance
  • Services available for Instagram and TikTok
  • Strong reputation for reliability and efficiency

Get started at Buzzoid.com

2. Twicsy

twicsy

Twicsy ranks among the leading platforms for Instagram growth, focusing on real followers, likes and views. With more than 10 years of experience, Twicsy has earned a reputation for reliability and consistent results. Influencers, small businesses and marketing pros all turn to Twicsy for measurable engagement boosts.

The platform offers a smooth purchasing process with flexible packages for different goals. Most orders go through within minutes, and Twicsy keeps retention rates high on delivered followers. It emphasizes authentic engagement, supporting healthy long-term account growth.

Twicsy has earned top ratings in independent reviews. Secure payments, clear pricing and responsive customer support all contribute to a dependable experience. Its focus on quality and ethical service standards continues to drive its success in social media marketing.

Pros

  • Over 10 years of consistent industry experience
  • Fast delivery with high follower retention rates
  • Secure transactions and transparent pricing
  • Responsive customer support team
  • Packages tailored for individuals and businesses

Buy real followers instantly on Twicsy.com

3. Rushmax

rushmax

Rushmax shines as a leading social media growth service focused on real Instagram followers. It delivers instantly and offers ongoing customer support, so you always get prompt, reliable service. Rushmax’s commitment to authenticity means followers come from verified, active accounts—helping brands and individuals build real credibility online.

With packages starting at just $2.97, Rushmax makes growth accessible for everyone, from small creators to big businesses. Its streamlined system ensures quick orders and secure transactions, making it easy to scale your presence. Thanks to consistent performance and clear pricing, Rushmax has become a trusted name in the industry.

Marketers choose Rushmax for accurate, dependable delivery and measurable engagement. The support team is available 24/7 and keeps satisfaction rates high. As it continues to grow, Rushmax keeps adding new tools to boost user experience and account performance.

Pros

  • Real, active followers delivered instantly
  • 24/7 customer support and secure transactions
  • Affordable packages starting at $2.97
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
  • Proven reliability and consistent delivery speed

Shop now at Rushmax.com

4. iDigic

iDigic stands out as a top provider of Instagram growth, with real followers, likes and views. Since the mid-2010s, iDigic has delivered authentic engagement that aligns with Instagram’s changing algorithm. The platform helps individuals, influencers and businesses boost visibility and credibility in no time.

iDigic’s verified delivery methods make sure engagement comes from real users. You’ll get immediate delivery options, upfront pricing and support that’s always available. Its user-friendly interface lets you pick packages that fit your goals, with no hassle or wasted time.

Clients from fashion, fitness, entertainment and more rely on iDigic for steady growth and high retention. Long-term users point to consistent account gains and lasting engagement, proving the platform’s strength in building online presence.

Pros

  • Delivers real and active Instagram followers quickly
  • Offers clear pricing and instant order fulfillment
  • Provides 24/7 customer support for all users
  • Maintains strong client retention and satisfaction rates
  • Supports scalable growth for individuals and businesses

5. Tokmatik

Tokmatik offers a digital growth platform designed to help individuals and businesses expand their Instagram reach with targeted follower engagement. As a trusted provider in social media marketing, Tokmatik features affordable packages that boost visibility and strengthen brand credibility. Its focus on authentic interactions leads to real, measurable growth.

Tokmatik uses smart engagement strategies like liking and commenting on relevant accounts to attract followers who fit your niche. This supports organic audience growth while staying in line with Instagram’s standards. Consistent results make Tokmatik a go-to for creators, influencers and small businesses looking for steady account growth.

Clients enjoy an easy purchasing process, clear pricing and responsive support. Tokmatik’s strong reputation for reliability and efficiency keeps customers coming back. Its services are perfect for users who want both speed and authenticity in audience building.

Pros

  • Provides affordable and scalable follower packages
  • Uses engagement-based methods for natural audience growth
  • Offers quick delivery and transparent service
  • Maintains strong customer satisfaction and support
  • Enhances visibility for brands and influencers

6. InstaPort

InstaPort stands out as a well-established social media growth platform, known for consistently delivering authentic Instagram followers. Since 2017, InstaPort has built a reputation for reliability, clear pricing and measurable engagement improvements. It partners with verified networks so every follower you gain is active and genuine.

InstaPort’s technology gives you precision targeting, letting you define your audience by region, interest or demographic. This helps influencers, small businesses and brands grow a relevant follower base for lasting visibility.

Its support team is available 24/7 and maintains a satisfaction rate above 95 percent. InstaPort uses secure payment systems and follows Instagram’s guidelines to keep your account safe. Its automated system delivers followers gradually, creating a natural growth curve that matches organic trends.

Pros:

  • Established in 2017 with a verified track record of reliability
  • Provides targeted, authentic followers for sustained engagement
  • Offers 24/7 customer support and transparent pricing
  • Uses secure payment and data protection systems
  • Delivers gradual, natural-looking follower increases

How Buying Instagram Followers Works

Buying Instagram followers connects your account with new followers through automated systems or promotional networks. Each provider has its own way of sourcing followers, delivering them and ensuring they stay active.

Understanding Follower Growth Services

Follower growth services work by linking your Instagram profile to a network of accounts that follow you automatically. Some companies use bot-driven systems, while others rely on real users who are paid or incentivized to follow.

Most providers only need your username—not your password—so you can get new followers without sharing private info. The quality and authenticity of these followers really depend on the provider’s approach.

Top services use targeted marketing campaigns or engagement pods to attract followers who genuinely share your interests. They balance cost and retention by mixing follower types, and often offer to replace any followers that drop off. This way, you can keep your visibility and credibility high.

Types of Instagram Followers Available

Follower packages usually fall into three categories:

TypeDescriptionEngagement Potential
Fake FollowersAutomated or inactive accounts used to increase numbers quickly.Very low
Low-Quality Real FollowersReal users paid to follow but rarely interact.Moderate
High-Quality Real FollowersActive users from targeted regions or interests.High

High-quality real followers tend to stick around and even engage with your posts. Some services combine follower types to help you get the best value and retention. It’s helpful to check what mix you’ll receive and whether the provider offers replacements, so your account stays strong.

Delivery Speed and Retention

Delivery speed can range from instant delivery to a gradual rollout over several days. If you want quick results, fast delivery is available, but you can also choose a more natural pace that mimics organic growth.

Reliable providers let you pick your delivery speed and monitor progress through dashboards or reports. Retention rates depend on follower authenticity and platform updates, but many services offer refill guarantees if followers drop within a set period—often 30 to 60 days. Prioritizing consistent retention helps you maintain steady account metrics and lasting growth.

Frequently Asked Questions: Maximizing Instagram Follower Growth

How can buying Instagram followers help me grow faster?

Buying followers gives your profile an instant credibility boost, making it easier to attract organic engagement and new followers who see your growing audience as a sign of value. It helps you stand out and reach your goals sooner.

Will purchased followers interact with my content?

High-quality services connect you with real, active users who often engage with posts. Choosing the right provider increases your chances of getting followers who like, comment and share your content.

Is it easy to get started with these services?

Absolutely. Most platforms require just your username and offer simple, user-friendly interfaces. You can select a package, complete your order and start seeing results in minutes—no complicated steps required.

Can I target followers based on my niche or region?

Yes, many top providers offer targeting options by interest, location or demographic, so you can grow an audience that’s relevant to your brand or content.

Do these services offer support if I have questions?

Definitely. The best platforms provide 24/7 customer support, so you can get help whenever you need it. Live chat and responsive teams make the process smooth and reliable.

How do I know which provider is right for me?

Look for platforms with a proven track record, transparent pricing, and strong customer reviews. Choosing a service known for authentic followers and dependable support ensures you get the most benefit from your investment.

How can purchasing Instagram followers benefit your account?

Buying followers can elevate your profile by increasing your audience, which often leads to more organic engagement. As your follower count grows, your content may appear more relevant and appealing to new visitors.

This growth can help you gain recognition in your niche and reach a wider audience, making it easier to connect with like-minded users and potential collaborators.

How do you spot providers of authentic, engaging Instagram followers?

Reliable providers clearly share their sourcing methods and focus on steady, realistic growth. Services like Twicsy, iDigic and Rushmax emphasize gradual delivery and real user engagement, so you know you’re getting genuine followers.

The best providers offer responsive customer support, transparent pricing and plenty of positive reviews that highlight their consistent, effective results.

What makes an Instagram follower high-quality?

High-quality followers typically have complete profiles, active posting habits and real engagement through likes, comments and story views. Their activity reflects genuine user behavior, which adds credibility to your account.

You’ll also notice that these followers come from diverse backgrounds and share interests relevant to your content, building a vibrant and authentic community.

Can buying Instagram likes boost engagement on your profile?

Purchasing likes can give your posts an immediate engagement boost, helping your content stand out and attract more attention. This visibility can encourage organic interactions as real users notice your popular posts.

Pairing purchased likes with consistent posting and genuine community interaction can spark even greater growth and help you build lasting engagement.

How does an Instagram follower tracker help you?

Follower trackers let you monitor changes in your follower count, engagement rates and audience demographics. You can easily see when your audience grows and spot positive trends in your account activity.

Some tools even compare how purchased followers interact with your content versus organic ones, giving you valuable insights into your growth strategy’s success.

What should be considered when looking at reviews for follower services like Buzzoid?

When you check out reviews for services like Buzzoid, focus on the ones that feel genuine and detailed. Look for feedback from real users who talk about things like how quickly they got their followers, the retention rate and the quality of engagement. These kinds of reviews usually give you a better sense of what to expect.

Why not browse a variety of trusted review sources? This way, you’ll get a well-rounded view and can spot the positive trends that stand out. Seeing consistent praise across platforms often points to a service that delivers on its promises.

Disclaimer: Buying Instagram followers from unreliable or low-quality sources can seriously harm your account’s visibility and credibility. In many cases, accounts that purchase followers from questionable vendors risk shadow bans or reduced reach, meaning their posts no longer appear prominently in followers’ feeds or on discovery pages. To avoid that, it’s important to work with reputable providers who use safe, compliant methods to help grow your social presence.

All brands featured in this content have a proven history of offering legitimate Instagram marketing services. They’ve maintained long-term positive reputations with clients and, notably, there has never been a verified instance of an account being banned, suspended or otherwise penalized as a result of using their follower or like packages. Always remember this critical rule: never provide your social media password to any service promising rapid growth.

The Femmes Are Giving

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Among other era-defining trends, the 2020s have been the decade of the cash-grab music festival. It seems like every two weeks a new VC-backed event promotion company has cobbled together a lineup of bands that people loved in high school to sell price-gouged wristbands for a festival so folks can gather together in a hot parking lot in Las Vegas, spend $15 on a beer and spend a day reclaiming their glory days. 

This, for the record, is not an indictment of the consumers who choose to spend their money this way. Rather, it’s an attempt to name the impersonal economy of experiences that have begun to emerge in a post-Covid world. What does it mean for our music consumption to be folded entirely into a corporate pipeline, one that does not live where we live and is not beholden to the community in which it operates?

Maria Chaos, founder and CEO of Doll Fest, thinks the community that comes together around music is as important as the music itself. Doll Fest, a two-day, East Bay-based music festival that champions femme identities both onstage and behind the scenes, is gearing up for its second year of festivities in March of next year.

Doll Fest is starting to explore how it fits into the greater tapestry of Bay Area arts and culture as well as the larger community it exists within. As such, a portion of the proceeds from the upcoming festival will be contributed to the Trans Law Center, a national human rights organization focusing on trans rights and autonomy with its headquarters located in Oakland.

“I view this less as a political act,” Chaos said, “and more of just being a good person.” Within her community, Chaos is witnessing the continued escalation of systemic risk being directed toward the most marginalized populations. “Across the board, we’re seeing that it’s more dangerous for people.” The people she’s referring to are the historically subjugated: people of color, folks occupying a space of low socioeconomic power, trans and queer people, and those who occupy any number of intersecting identities.

It’s one thing to throw an event that celebrates an identity, and another entirely to take action to bolster support for it. Doll Fest bills itself as a femme-centered event and intends to cast a wide net of who is included under that umbrella. Femme can include cis and trans feminine presentations. It’s inclusive of any sexual orientation, race and ethnicity.

“We are trying to create a space where people feel safe and accepted,” Chaos said, “and are able to have a lot of fun.”

While the big festival is still a ways out, Doll Fest will host its first lead-up event, called The Femmes Are Giving, on Nov. 1 at Kilowatt Bar. The event is a charity concert to raise funds for Lyon-Martin Community Health Services, a free clinic offering an array of medical, mental health, and community services to the trans and queer community in San Francisco since 1979. When asked about her motivation for this event, Chaos is quite blunt: “If there is an entity offering healthcare free of judgment and free of financial obligation, that is worth protecting.”

FEMINIST PUNK Frightwig formed in San Francisco in 1982 with founding members Deanna Mitchell, Mia d’Bruzzi and Cecilia Kuhn. (Photo by Bobby Castro)

The show features a stacked lineup of femme-fronted bands, with a headlining set from the legendary punk outfit, Frightwig. Frightwig has been playing their brash, anti-patriarchal brand of punk since 1982 and feels a personal connection to this show. Deanna Mitchell, bassist for Frightwig, received services herself from Lyon-Martin in the ’80s.

“I had no money and no healthcare,” Mitchell said. “And I was treated so well there. There was no judgment.” Mitchell reported that Frightwig is always down to play for a righteous cause, citing the band’s record of playing one of the first AIDS benefits in San Francisco in the ’80s, and names the continued importance of showing up for one’s beliefs.

Doll Fest with Frightwig, Skip The Needle, Hot Laundry, the Furious Tits and Half Rotten Goddess at 6pm Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Kilowatt, 3160 16th St., San Francisco. kilowattbar.com

Lulu thrives on Solano

Since the un-merry month of May, I’ve lamented the closure of Mica Talmor’s Pomella. Talmor’s Piedmont Avenue restaurant filled an elusive culinary niche in the East Bay. Served as takeaway or in the small outdoor cafe facing out and onto a parking lot, the chef’s Mediterranean dishes could have qualified as fine dining if the setting had been different. It’s easy to imagine an alternative story, a non-ending for Pomella set up inside something like Jaji’s deluxe headquarters.

When compared with a plethora of middle-of-the-road Mediterranean joints—the ones that sell flavorless hummus, stale pita bread and wan vegetable salads—Talmor continued to refresh her menu with inventive weekly specials. At the same time, the food reflected her commitment to using high-quality ingredients and produce. Pomella’s hummus still ranks as an all-time favorite. But the long-term costs turned out to be unsustainable.

A year and a half after opening at a new location on Solano, I finally had brunch at Lulu. Chef Mona Leena’s “California take on Palestinian cuisine” presented me with a picture of what Pomella could have looked like in a parallel world. Leena’s menu draws from the same region as Talmor’s, but the chef’s preparation of and combination of flavors at Lulu is entirely unique. The food we ordered was traditional and nontraditional at the same time. I could taste the various cultural influences, which Leena had thoughtfully reinvented.

There’s also a welcome sense of play on the menu. We ordered a habi-bimbap bowl ($24) which, apart from the inviting presentation in a bowl, really had very little to do with bimbap. When I bit into them, the kefta meatballs’ hard sear made for a nice and tender crunch—the bowl can also be made vegan. Baby lettuce leaves lined the sides of the bowl accompanied by cucumber and pickled carrots. The basmati rice at the bottom of the bowl had turned a golden color from some undisclosed spice, likely turmeric. I loved the lemon-mint yogurt that complemented every ingredient. But I’d have preferred the liberal pour of dukkah as a side so that I could add it as needed rather than work my fork around it.

We also tried Baba’s Breakfast ($29). This reinterpretation of a crowded brunch plate included: scrambled eggs, a healthy length of lamb sausage, fuul mudamas or stewed fava beans, a scoop of fresh labneh, triangles of pita bread, pickled carrots and turnips, and harissa tots—the undeniable star. My friend also tried a baklava brulee cappuccino ($7), and was immediately smitten with its balance of sweetness and espresso.

The only dish that didn’t work for me was the knafeh ($16). This had nothing to do with the execution of the dessert, and everything to do with its sweet soak in an orange-blossom syrup. I’ve never responded to the taste of floral flavors. Made with delicate layers of katalfi, ghee and sweet cow’s milk, the knafeh hits and maintains a hard floral note.

Leena’s menu at Lulu’s on Solano is more assured and expansive than the first iteration on Camelia Street in Berkeley. When she opened the restaurant there in 2021, I spoke with the chef about the transition she made from her 2020 Mana’eesh Lady pop-up to a brick-and-mortar in the post-pandemic restaurant world.

Throughout her cooking career in California restaurant kitchens, Leena found parallels between California and Palestinian cuisine. Both focus on seasonality and celebrating ingredients versus manipulating them to the point where they’re unrecognizable. Leena described her approach at Lulu’s as a combination of California produce and meats with Palestinian influences, rather than as an Arabic restaurant.

She told me that during her stint at Serpentine, the chef there, Deepak Kaul, was the first person to encourage her to incorporate Middle Eastern flavors in the context of a fine-dining restaurant. “Kaul and I played very well off each other because he brought a lot of Indian flair to it,” she said. “That was my first inkling of, ‘I can make something really cool with the food of my culture.’” 

Lulu, 1106 Solano Ave., Albany. Open Thu–Sun for brunch and dinner.  IG: @luluonsolano. lulusolano.com

Social Eyes: Week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

PUNK

NEVER EASY

Montreal-based band Never Easy blend grunge grit, post-hardcore power and the melodic punch of modern nu-metal. They channel longing and breakdown that draws on two decades of heavy alt-rock, from the loud ache of “i’ll never tell” to the nostalgic, spiked-hair vibe of “stay.” They’re joining Texas provocateur Max Díaz—who describes himself as “a cowboy who transcends the boundaries between realism and nihilism”—on a co-headlining run, fusing northern frost with desert fire. SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT

INFO: Thu, 8:30pm, 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. $20-$25. 510.524.8180.

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

SAMBA

ROGÊ

A mainstay on Rio de Janeiro’s samba scene since the late aughts, Rogê—a.k.a. Roger José Cury—has been widely hailed as the most exciting samba-soul performer of his generation. He’s been slowly introducing himself to North American audiences, a campaign that started in early 2020 on a U.S. tour with fellow samba-soul star Seu Jorge, of The Life Aquatic fame. The Latin Grammy nominee has forged a propulsive sound drawing on the musical riches of classic 1970s Música Popular Brasileira. Now based in L.A., he released his U.S. debut, Curyman, in 2023 and followed up last year with the second album in a planned trilogy, Curyman II. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: Thu, 8pm, The Freight, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. $34-$39. 510.644.2020.

FRIDAY, OCT. 31

INDIE

JONAH MARAIS

Jonah Marais got his start livestreaming from his bedroom before founding hit band Why Don’t We. Now he’s carving his own lane as a solo artist, experimenting with a sound that drifts between folk-pop and confessional indie. On this Hearts Back Home tour, his new songs trade boy-band gloss for quieter mullings on loss and insecurity. It’s honest, a little bruised and unguardedly hopeful—raw lyrics paired with warm, understated production. Marais is chasing authenticity, not spectacle. – SBB

INFO: Fri, 6pm, Cornerstone, 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $29. 510.214.8600.

FRIDAY, OCT. 31

THEATER

‘THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA’

Tony Award-winning Jez Butterworth’s play is a riveting tale of the four adult Webb sisters and Veronica, their fiercely ambitious mother. Intent, when they were young girls, on making them a second-to-none singing troupe surpassing even the Andrews Sisters, the Webb sisters return as adults to their English childhood home. Reckoning with the past, gathered to say last goodbyes to their dying mother, wrestling through estrangements and resentments, the story set in 1976 includes flashbacks to 1955. All families have sagas and secrets, and the Webb family is no exception. Performances go until Dec. 7. LOU FANCHER

INFO: Fri, 8pm, Berkeley Rep, Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. $24-$81. 510.647.2949.

SATURDAY, NOV. 1

CUMBIA

PSYCHED! FEST 2025

Ring in Dia De Los Muertos the right way with a South American psych fest that brings in psychedelic cumbia! Featuring Oakland’s Ritmos Tropicosmos; Amantes del Futuro, straight from Mexico City; and headliner Bardo (ex-Chicano Batman). Psyched! is more than just a show. This is a celebration of Latin culture with DJ sets, Aztec dancers and live visuals by Psyched! Visual Collective and, of course, plenty of psychedelic cumbia. And what better place to have it than at Oakland’s Crybaby? Make sure to wear some comfortable shoes ’cause this night guarantees nonstop dancing. MAT WEIR

INFO: Sat, 5pm, Crybaby, 1928 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. $30.

SATURDAY, NOV. 1

JAZZ

PEDRO JOSÉ PASTRANA & THE CARIBBEAN JAZZ TRIO

Arriving in the Bay Area from Puerto Rico, Pedro José Pastrana quickly found significant creative allies, including John Santos, Barrio Manouche and Atabal. A master of the cuatro, the diminutive 10-string instrument that’s an essential component of the island’s folkloric jibaro music, Pastrana is dedicated to expanding Puerto Rican traditional rhythms, melodies and cultural narratives with his love of jazz. He’s joined by drummer Colin Douglas, who’s worked with top bandleaders Jesus Diaz, Ray Obiedo, Wayne Wallace and veteran Guatemalan American bassist Ayla Davila, a founding member of the Mexican roots ensemble Los Cenzontles. – AG

INFO: Sat, 8pm, Back Room, 1984 Bonita Ave., Berkeley. $20. 510.654.3808.

SATURDAY, NOV. 1

FUNK

GHOST-NOTE

Mustard n’Onions, Ghost-Note’s blistering 2024 album released on Mack Avenue Records, turned heads and twisted ears with astonishing solos under the leadership of drummer Robert “Sput” Searight. In the band’s suitcase of notables are recordings made with Prince, Kendrick Lamar, Herbie Hancock, Snarky Puppy and Kirk Franklin. Among other attributes of the album, one-time Prince bassist MonoNeon is a longstanding member, and percussionist Nate Werth arrived from Grammy-winning Snarky Puppy. Standout tracks conjure up the ghosts of James Brown, Prince, Mayfield and Miller. Slide over to Yoshi’s and get some Saturday night sound to satisfy every funk-with-energy craving. – LF

INFO: Sat, 7:30pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $42-84. 510.238.9200.

SUNDAY, NOV. 2

ROOTS MUSIC

BLACK WOMEN’S ROOTS FESTIVAL

No one—seriously, no one—feels and sings roots, blues, jazz and gospel like the lineup featured on the fifth annual Black Women’s Roots Festival. The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol will be joined by Lady Tremaine Hawkins, Linda Tillery and Tammy Hall, Bishop Yvette Flunder, Miko Marks and Big Gems Daughter. And also, as a special treat, by Miss Faye’s Babies—young, talented singers being nurtured by Carol at her School of The Getdown, where they study “the art and history of Black music and performance, and represent our future with strength and purpose.” The Freight will be jumpin’ and sayin’ amen. JANIS HASHE

INFO: Sun, 4pm, The Freight, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. $49-$54. 510.544.2020.

TUESDAY, NOV. 4

ROCK

AFI

This week, AFI returns to where it all started: The Bay Area. Thirty-four years after Davey Havok and Adam Carson started the band, AFI continues to grow and evolve. Starting as a hardcore act, they gained mainstream attention with their seventh album, 2006’s Decemberunderground. Since then, they have continued to push boundaries, diving into dance, post-punk and darkwave, like with their new album, Silver Bleeds the Black Sun ... Released only a month ago, it has earned rave reviews from fans and critics, and continues to explore the band’s gothic influences. – MW

INFO: Tue, 8pm, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave. $56-$224. 510.302.2250.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5

INDIE

FAYE WEBSTER

Ever since she released her first album at age 16, Faye Webster has steered her own course through indie-folk, alt-country, R&B and a few nods to her Atlanta hip-hop start. Her 2024 album, Underdressed at the Symphony, continued the synthesis with cuts like “Make ’em Laugh,” a duet with pop-artist Benét that features swelling orchestra strings and a flute fluttering through the song like a butterfly. Webster’s two-night gig at the Paramount is titled “An Evening with Faye Webster and the Magik*Magik Orchestra” which, for this outing, numbers 40 pieces. Magik indeed. There are shows on Wednesday and Thursday. – JH

INFO: Wed, 8pm, Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. $93-$353. 510.893.2300.

Fighting fire with fire

Tatiana Haddawy wore a crown, carried a torch, and donned a teal robe and sash emblazoned with the words, “Not For Sale,” as she walked through downtown Oakland during the national day of protest for the No Kings movement.

“My purpose in dressing as Lady Liberty is to represent America and say, ‘We are not for sale,’” Haddawy said. “I feel like our current administration is for sale to the highest bidder, and it scares me.”

Haddawy, in her 50s, is the mom of a senior in high school and a college student—and she’s a student herself. “As I explained to my children, sometimes protests do nothing. But sometimes the sheer number of people standing up for something does have an effect,” she said. “I love to protest. I love being surrounded by likeminded people. The energy fills me with hope for the future.”

Haddawy wishes more people from her children’s and classmate’s generation were in the streets with her and the thousands of elders who seem to be leading the No Kings movement. Even as Haddawy finds herself protesting mostly in the company of moms, grandparents and community elders, she says she’s fighting for all generations.

“I try to tell myself everyday not to look [at the news] because I know it’s going to make me sad,” Haddawy said. “It’s going to take more than an election to undo all the damage being done by Trump’s presidency. I have children, and someday I’ll have grandchildren. I would like them to have the freedom to breathe and walk in a world that is free and livable.”

Haddawy fears losing her rights as a woman, and the impacts of climate change being ignored. She’s mad about her tax dollars funding neverending wars. “I don’t mind giving tax dollars to save children, or giving food or health aid or money to help with housing,” she said. “I’m very unhappy about my tax dollars going towards destruction and genocide, and things that I would never approve of or vote for.”

While Haddawy doesn’t have an immediate fix for those things, she finds agency in being able to cast her vote in November. And she’ll be voting “yes” on Prop 50, the Election Rigging Response Act initiated by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Prop 50 proposes temporarily redistricting voting areas into what Newsom says are more fair and representative districts, until the year 2030. Newsom reportedly put the measure on the ballot in response to Trump-led, Republican efforts to redistrict Texas to tilt the election in favor of Republicans.

“They call it gerrymandering, but Texas is doing it so Republicans can have more say in what goes through and what doesn’t,” Haddawy said. “Gavin is responding in the only way the Trump administration seems to know: Fight fire with fire. Even if it’s illegal we’ll do it, too, because we deserve to be heard.”

Howard Weamer is in his 80s. He protests along with his wife, Lynn MacMichael, as often as possible. “It feels really good to be out there doing something with people who share common values,” Weamer said.

Weamer says that while Prop 50 might not be fair, he can’t see a way around it at this moment in time. “There are a lot of things about the electoral system that aren’t fair,” he said. “It’s not one person, one vote. Fair was what the state decided before Texas changed the rules. California will go back to that, but in the meantime we can’t throw away a chance to diminish the power of the bandits who are running Washington.”

ONLY QUEENS Tatiana Haddawy of Oakland (not pictured) says the energy of protests fills her with ‘hope for the future.’ (Photo courtesy of Tatiana Haddawy)

There seems to be plenty of blame to go around in Washington for the government shutdown, which threatens services like CalFresh while ICE agents continue raids and construction crews press forward on demolition of the East Wing of the White House in preparation for a massive ballroom.

Assemblymember Alex Lee thinks that’s a crazy irony. “Republicans control the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court and the presidency, so it’s crazy for them to blame the minority opposition party,” he said. “The Republicans passed the big BS bill, which gave unprecedented tax breaks to billionaires and cut social services, healthcare and food for millions of Americans.”

Prior to the shutdown, Democrats tried to renegotiate some of the cut healthcare benefits, but Republican lawmakers didn’t come to the table. They didn’t rule out looking at healthcare benefits in the future, but urged their Democratic colleagues to sign to avoid a government shutdown.

“It’s important that Democrats don’t cave into weaponizing the federal government against the people of America,” Lee said. “If they want to continue to hurt Californians and Americans, I think Republicans have to do that on their own.”

Lee says he feels hope in the number of citizens coming to the streets and in a higher-than-usual voter engagement for this period in an election cycle. “Voter turnout is on par with the voter turnout for the presidential election in November, which is highly unusual for an off year,” Lee said. “People are turning out to vote because they are so frustrated by President Trump. Realistically I think Prop 50 will pass, and that will send a strong message to Donald Trump that the voters and people of California are tired of it.”

While Lee understands why Californians are taking the “fight fire with fire” approach to Trump’s gerrymandering and redistricting practices, he abstained from voting to put Prop 50 on the ballot and he’ll do the same this election cycle.

“I have strong concerns that we’re triggering a larger gerrymandering war,” Lee said. “If Californians want to do harm mitigation, let’s do harm mitigation. Right now, a lot of people want to fight with fire but ultimately we, as a true governing left coalition, have to come up with ways to put out the fire or else we will all live in the ashes of democracy.”

If Prop 50 passes as Lee suspects it will, he says the important work will start the day after the election. “We must put that same amount of energy and fire into fighting for independent redistricting across the country, and work on rooting out all corruption in the system,” he said. “That is the only true way to restore democracy.”

Even if Prop 50 isn’t perfect, protester Will Newart fears what will happen if it doesn’t pass.

“In that case, the Congress will likely have a Republican majority in the next cycle which will not be great for those of us that dislike this regime,” Newart said. “If that happens they’ll have even more power to pass legislation that strips money from really important parts of the country and gives money to ICE and tax cuts to billionaires at the expense of Americans. That’s not good for our democratic process.”

Short Cuts: Tiny reviews of smaller film releases worth considering

1

Some weeks there aren’t any new theatrical releases audiences are hyped for, so most people stay home and check out something on Netflix or another streaming service. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t films worth watching or discussing. So, once a month, I’m going to watch as many of the smaller releases as I can find and give them tiny reviews. With that said, here is the inaugural column of “Short Cuts.” I watched seven movies over two days. Now I shall sleep.

‘The Lost Bus’

I was born and raised in Paradise, California, so watching a disaster movie about the Camp Fire, which nearly removed the small mountain town from the map in 2018, wasn’t on my bucket list of things to do. But I figured I owed it to my friends and family still there to check it out. I can’t grade the film with any sort of objectivity, but I appreciate that the film solidly places Pacific Gas and Electric as the villain and that it doesn’t wallow in the horror of those who perished. Instead it finds heroism in the ordinary folks who risked their lives to protect others. Director Paul Greengrass is an expert in crafting films about real-life tragedy—he directed United 93 and Bloody Sunday—but The Lost Bus feels less like a docudrama and closer to disaster pictures like The Towering Inferno or San Andreas. That might offend some, but it made the film more palatable for me. I choked back more tears than I expected, for whatever that’s worth.

Grade: B+

‘Twinless’

Go into this blind if possible, as the twists and turns make for a deliriously unpredictable experience. Dylan O’Brian and writer/director/star James Sweeney play two grieving men who meet at a support group for people whose twins have died. They strike up an instant and poignant friendship based on their mutual grief, but things take a strange and dark turn at the end of the first act. That’s all I can say about the plot, but those who like a savagely acerbic, pitch-black comedy with crisp dialogue, strong performances—keep an eye on Aisling Franciosi, she’s a movie star—and one hell of a twist should check it out. A truly singular work.

Grade: B

‘Good Boy’

A haunted-house movie from the point of view of a gorgeously expressive Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Indy! This one works for horror buffs, not just as a love letter to man’s best friend, but as an atmospheric and disturbing Halloween flick as well. Good Boy creeped me out to my core and, at only 75 minutes, did so with remarkable precision. While Ben Leonberg directs with impressive grace for his feature debut, due to the low budget some of the CG effects fall flat and kill the vibe. But that’s nowhere near enough of an issue to derail what will definitely be considered a cult classic down the road. I can’t wait to see this again.

Grade: B+

‘The Smashing Machine’

With Benny Safdie in the director’s chair, I think I expected The Smashing Machine to be elevated over the stereotypical sports biopic that we’re used to seeing coming out of Hollywood. And while Safdie adds a tactile grain to the direction—he filmed most of it on 16mm film—it doesn’t add a gritty immediacy to a story that feels like the Cliff’sNotes version of the life of extreme fighter Mark Kerr. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gives a densely layered performance unlike anything seen from him before, but Emily Blunt is stuck playing an absolute caricature of a human being. It’s nowhere near a bad movie but Safdie plays it safe, and that’s not something I ever would have expected from half of the filmmaking team behind Uncut Gems.

Grade: C+

‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’

This picks up right where the last one left off, with a trio of masked killers hunting our heroine around a hospital where she’s recovering from the stabbings she got in the first film. It’s not an exaggeration to say this entire movie is a single chase sequence from beginning to end, which is entertaining for someone as strange as I am, but also exhausting. This one is an improvement over the first one, but not by much, and audiences will be better served watching the original from 2008. Chapter 3 comes out next year, and hopefully it will tie this somewhat pointless trilogy together in a way that feels less perfunctory than it does now. Still, I had some fun watching this.

Grade: C+

‘Bone Lake’

A romantically stagnant couple goes on vacation to a palatial lakeside Airbnb and finds out another couple has been double-booked for the same weekend. It’s 100 minutes of psycho-sexual mind games and bad writing. The interesting central concept about intimacy and trust is undermined by pedestrian execution that never manages to be sexy or scary. However, lead actress Maddie Hasson is a powerhouse and deserves much better projects from now on.

Grade: D+

BROKEN MEN Daniel Day-Lewis came out of retirement to star in his son’s directorial debut, ‘Anemone.’ (Photo courtesy of Plan B)

‘Anemone’

Daniel Day-Lewis came out of retirement to star in his son’s directorial debut, and it’s … super weird? He’s obviously magnetic and impossible to look away from, while Ronan Day-Lewis’ direction is painterly and gorgeous. But the script obfuscates the plot so much that the film plays like a mystery when it’s really a straightforward family drama. Slow and methodical in its approach to storytelling, the film will frustrate most casual viewers and the third act’s reliance on symbolism and metaphor kept me emotionally removed from the characters. This should have been a devastating look at broken men and generational trauma, but instead it’s a puzzling but pretty abstraction.

Grade: C-

Free Will Astrology: Week of Oct. 29

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): On the outskirts of a village in Ghana, a healer gathers plants only when the moon says yes. She speaks the names of each leaf aloud, as if to ask permission, and never picks more than needed. She trusts that each herb has its own wisdom that she can learn from. I invite you to emulate her approach, Aries. Now is a good time to search for resources you need to heal and thrive. The best approach is to be receptive to what life brings you, and approach with reverence and gratitude. Halloween costume suggestion: herbalist, traditional healer, sacred botanist.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A well-cut ship’s sail is not a flat sheet. It has a gentle curve that the sailmaker crafts stitch by stitch so the wind will catch and convert invisible pressure into forward motion. Too taut, and the cloth flaps, wasting energy; too loose, and power dissipates. The miracle lies in geometry tuned to an unseen current. I invite you to be inspired by this approach, Taurus. Build curvature into your plans so that optimism isn’t an afterthought but a structural feature. Calibrate your approaches to natural processes so movement arises from alignment rather than brute effort. Make sure your progress is fueled by what you love and trust. Halloween costume suggestion: Wear a sail.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): All of us can benefit from regular phases of purification: Periods when we dedicate ourselves to cleansing, shedding and simplifying. During these intense times of self-healing, we might check our integrity levels to see if they remain high. We can atone for mistakes, scrub away messy karma and dismantle wasteful habits. Here’s another essential practice: Disconnecting ourselves from influences that lower our energy and demean our soul. The coming weeks will be a perfect time to engage in these therapeutic pleasures, Gemini. Halloween costume suggestion: purifier, rejuvenator, cleanser, refiner.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Deep in the Pacific Ocean, male humpback whales sing the longest, slowest, most intricate love songs ever. Their bass tones are loud and strong, sometimes traveling for miles before reaching their intended recipients. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to compose and unleash your own ultimate love songs, Cancerian. Your emotional intelligence is peaking, and your passionate intensity is extra refined and attractive. Meditate on the specific nature of the gifts you want to offer and receive in return. Halloween costume suggestion: singer of love songs.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Between 1680 and 1725, Italy’s Antonio Stradivari and his family made legendary violins that are highly valued today. They selected alpine spruce trees and Balkan maple, seasoned the wood for years and laid varnish in painstaking layers that produced sublime resonance. Their genius craftsmanship can be summed up as the cumulative magic of meticulousness over time. I recommend their approach to you, Leo. Be in service to the long game. Commune with people, tools and commitments that age well. Act on the theory that beautiful tone is perfected in layers. Halloween costume suggestion: a fine craftsperson.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Trained women dancers in Rajasthan, India, perform the ancient art of bhavai. As folk music plays, they balance on the dull edge of a sword and hold up to 20 clay pots on their head. They sway with elegance and artistry, demonstrating an ultimate embodiment of “grace under pressure.” I don’t foresee challenges as demanding as that for you, Virgo. But I suspect you will have the poise and focus to accomplish the metaphorical equivalents of such a feat. Halloween costume suggestion: regal acrobat or nimble dancer.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1968, researchers at Stanford conducted the “marshmallow test.” Children were offered a single sweet treat immediately. But if they didn’t quickly gobble down the marshmallow, thus postponing their gratification, they were awarded with two candies later. The kids who held out for the double reward didn’t do so by sheer willpower alone. Rather, they found clever ways to distract themselves to make the wait more bearable: making up games, focusing their attention elsewhere and adjusting their surroundings. I advise you to learn from their approach, Libra. Cultivate forbearance and poise without dimming your passion. Harness small triumphs of willpower into generating big, long-term gains. Diligent, focused effort invested now will almost certainly lead to satisfying outcomes. So please prioritize incremental, systematic grunt work over stunts and adrenaline. Halloween costume trick: carry two marshmallows.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the late 18th century, Balloonomania came to Paris. Large crowds gathered to watch inventors and impresarios send hot air balloons into the sky. Spectators were astonished, fearful and filled with wonder. Some wept, and some fainted. I suspect you’re due for your own exhilarating lift-off, Scorpio—a surge of inspiration that may bewilder a few witnesses but will delight those with open minds. Halloween costume prop: wings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t be too shocked by my unusual list of raw materials that might soon turn out to be valuable: grime, muck, scuzz, scum, slop, bilge, slime and glop. Amazingly, this stuff may conceal treasures or could be converted into unexpected building materials. So I dare you to dive in and explore the disguised bounty. Proceed on the assumption that you will find things you can use when you distrust first impressions and probe beneath surfaces. Halloween costume suggestions: sacred janitor, recycling wizard, garbage genius.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the tidepools of America’s Pacific Northwest lives the ochre starfish, a keystone species that keeps mussel populations in check. Remove the starfish, and the ecosystem collapses into imbalance. Let’s make this creature your power symbol, Capricorn. The visible effect of your presence may not be flashy or vivid, but you will hold a stabilizing role in a group, project or relationship. Your quiet influence can keep things harmonious. Your gift is not to dominate the scene, but to keep the whole system alive and diverse. Halloween costume suggestion: ochre starfish (More info: tinyurl.com/OchreStarfish).

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): For hundreds of years, the Blackfoot people of North America built buffalo jumps. These were steep cliffs where herds of bison could be guided and driven over the edge during a hunt. It required elaborate cooperation. Scouts tracked the herd, decoys lured them toward the drop and prep teams waited below to process the meat, hides and bones for the whole community’s sustenance. I hope you will engage in smaller versions of this project. Now is an excellent time to initiate, inspire and foster shared efforts. Make it a high priority to work with allies you trust. Halloween costume suggestions: shepherd, sheep dog, cowboy, vaquero.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the ancient Greek world, oracles spoke in riddles. This was not because they were coy, but because they understood that truth must often arrive obliquely. Directness is overrated when the soul is in motion. Mythic modes of perception don’t obey the laws of logic. In this spirit, Pisces, I invite you to make riddles and ambiguities be your allies. A dream, an overheard conversation or a misheard lyric may contain an enigmatic but pithy code. You should be alert for messages that arrive sideways and upside down. Tilt your head. Read between the flames. You will understand when your heart recognizes what your mind can’t name. Halloween costume suggestion: oracle or fortune-teller.

Homework: This Halloween, maybe pretend to be your secret self. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Best of the East Bay 2025 Party Photos

Photography by Pat Mazzera, Mazzera.com

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Social Eyes: Week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5

Social Eyes: Week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5
THURSDAY, OCT. 30 PUNK NEVER EASY Montreal-based band Never Easy blend grunge grit, post-hardcore power and the melodic punch of modern nu-metal. They channel longing and breakdown that draws on two decades of heavy alt-rock, from the loud ache of “i’ll never tell” to the nostalgic, spiked-hair vibe of “stay.” They’re joining Texas provocateur Max Díaz—who describes himself as “a cowboy who...

Fighting fire with fire

Fighting fire with fire
Tatiana Haddawy wore a crown, carried a torch, and donned a teal robe and sash emblazoned with the words, “Not For Sale,” as she walked through downtown Oakland during the national day of protest for the No Kings movement. “My purpose in dressing as Lady Liberty is to represent America and say, ‘We are not for sale,’” Haddawy said. “I...

Short Cuts: Tiny reviews of smaller film releases worth considering

Short Cuts: Tiny reviews of smaller film releases worth considering
Some weeks there aren’t any new theatrical releases audiences are hyped for, so most people stay home and check out something on Netflix or another streaming service. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t films worth watching or discussing. So, once a month, I’m going to watch as many of the smaller releases as I can find and give them...

Free Will Astrology: Week of Oct. 29

Free Will Astrology: Week of Nov. 12
Free Will Astrology: Week of Oct. 29 features Rob Brezsny's horoscopes—this time with Halloween costume suggestions for every sign!

Best of the East Bay 2025 Party Photos

best of the east bay 2025 cover
View our online photo gallery from the 2025 Best of the East Bay party. See your chosen Best Of winners right here.
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