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CURIOUS MINDS MEMORY CAFÉ
DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY ART + CONVERSATION

Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

 

Curious Minds Memory Café is a twice monthly gathering for people experiencing mild to moderate memory loss and their caregivers — spouses, family members, and friends.

The program includes in-gallery exhibition tours and art-based activities that are designed to benefit the person with dementia as well as those providing care, and the activities are designed to engage and support both simultaneously.

Environment: The program offers an engaging and supportive environment that encourages social interaction, conversation, and freedom of self-expression.

Program Partner: Curious Minds Memory Café is offered in partnership with Jewish Family and Children’s Services.

Registration: This is a free, in-gallery program. Registration is recommended.

Access: Located at the heart of SF’s Mission District, Ruth’s Table gallery and adjacent outdoor patio are fully wheelchair accessible by ramp or level ground. Learn more about our location here.

Questions? With any questions about registration or access at RT, please reach out to us at contact@ruthstable.org or 415.642.1000.

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CHINESE POETRY WORKSHOP

Every Tuesday | 10-11am
Onsite | Free | All Ages
Suitable for Cantonese Speakers

Join us for a weekly poetry workshop and create beautiful written prose! Taught by poet and performer, Clara Hsu, this workshop will guide participants through poetry and creative writing in Chinese. All supplies and writing resources are provided.

Instructor: Clara Hsu

Access: Ruth’s Table gallery and adjacent green space are wheelchair accessible.

Registration: Free | RSVP not required.

Donate: The program is free, donations are welcome.

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VIRTUAL STUDIO

Thursdays | 2-3pm PT
All ages and skill levels

Join us for Virtual Studio, our free weekly online art workshop led by Ruth’s Table teaching artists. Experiment, create, and learn together with art materials at home! Each week features a different project with opportunities for experimentation and skill building.

Sessions are one hour. A demonstration of materials and techniques is included, along with time for making and sharing with fellow participants.

Suggested Supplies: Registrants will receive an email 2-3 days before the program with workshop info, a list of suggested materials and info for accessing the workshop.

Registration: Free | Register with the button below.

Image: Watercolor painting sample from the Relaxing with Watercolors Virtual Studio workshop by Teaching Artist Joyce Nojima.

Your generous donation keeps programs like Virtual Studio free and accessible to all.

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CREATIVE RE-USE WORKSHOP

Every Wednesday | 1-3pm PT
Onsite | Drop-In
All ages and skill levels

Open to everyone, this free weekly program provides a welcoming and inspiring environment to engage with the arts, with a focus on creative re-use and paper-based projects.

This series aims to focus on the process of making and creating together in a supportive and creative community.

Facilitator: Monica Lee

Supplies: All materials are provided for free at the workshop.

Registration: Free | RSVP not required

CHAIR YOGA

Every Thursday | 11am-12:15pm
Onsite in Bethany Center Community Room, 580 Capp Street 
Free | All Ages
Suitable for English & Cantonese Speakers

Move with us at this weekly workshop taught in both English and Cantonese! Led by instructor, Tina Kwok, this class integrates chair yoga and meditation and promotes a sense of community and overall well-being. All yoga equipment is provided.

Instructor: Tina Kwok

Access: Ruth’s Table gallery and adjacent green space are wheelchair accessible.

Registration: Free | RSVP not required.

Donate: The program is free, donations are welcome.

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GEN BLEND OPEN MIC!

Every First Thursday | 5:30 - 7:30pm
Onsite | Free

Gen Blend Open Mic is a vibrant celebration of self-expression across generations, featuring poetry, personal stories, music, reflections and more. Presented in partnership with Community Living Campaign and in collaboration with Decentered Arts, Litquake's Elder Project and Golden Sardine. Four writers and artists from our partners are featured each month with open mic time available for visitors the last half-hour. Open mic sign-up is first come, first serve for pieces under 3 minutes.

This free event is also a community potluck—bring something to share! Beverages provided. Each month, Ruth’s Table shares a dish from a local small business, and also asks our community to bring something tasty or refreshing to share at this monthly community potluck-style dinner & creative gathering!

5:30–6:00 PM · Doors Open
6:00–6:45 PM · 4 Featured Readers (5–7 min each)
6:45–7:00 PM · Live Music
7:00–7:30 PM · Open Mic (3-minute acts, first come, first served)
7:30 PM · Event Wraps

Visitor Guidelines: Face masks are optional.

Access: Ruth’s Table gallery and adjacent green space are wheelchair accessible.

ASL Interpretation: ASL interpretation is available upon request. 72-hour notice required.

Registration: Free | RSVP not required

Donate: The program is free, donations are welcome.

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ON THE PAGE WITH PHILLIP GERSON

2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month
5:30pm-7pm
Onsite | Free

Bring your poems, plays, prose, memoirs to this creative writing workshop meeting twice a month!! This workshop is a great place to present your writing and receive constructive feedback. In addition, we will discuss inspiring literary works and explore writing exercises that generate new material. The workshop will culminate with a public reading in San Francisco. Whether you want to revisit old works or begin a new project, On the Page provides a safe, welcoming space to grow together as writers.

About Phillip Gerson: Phillip (he/him) is a writer and community programmer living in San Francisco. His creative writing initiatives have been commissioned by 92nd Street Y, Counterpulse, SF Human Rights Commission, Elder Care Alliance, Campus for Jewish Living, and Curry Senior Center. Phillip’s own work has been produced by Abrons Art Center, The Drama League, and the National Endowment for Humanities and published by Mad Gleam Press, Birds Piled Loosely, and Chiron Review.

Visitor Guidelines: Face masks are optional.

Access: Ruth’s Table gallery and adjacent green space are wheelchair accessible.

ASL Interpretation: ASL interpretation is available upon request. 72-hour notice required.

Registration: Free | RSVP not required

Donate: The program is free, donations are welcome.

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SOUND IN THE ROUND:

GROUP VOCAL IMPROVISATION, COMPOSITION & PLAY!

Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the Month
3:30-5:00pm
Bethany Center Community Room | 580 Capp Street
Onsite | Free

Join us for Sound in the Round, where creativity, community and song blossom! We'll practice using nothing other than our own voices and bodies to make original music in real time, and we'll enjoy a variety of activities that will spark your creativity and deepen your sonic sensitivity. 

Inspired by Bobby McFerrin's circle singing, as well as other vocal improvisation groups like Musico De Circulo (from Brazil), this uplifting and wickedly fun activity will bring out the composer, backup singer, percussionist, dancer and bold experimenter in you! We will also experiment by using visuals, poetry and nonmusical sound to inspire our improvised creations. You do not need to consider yourself a singer or musician to join — you just need to be open to playing, listening and learning! Regular attendance is encouraged to help us build community and hone our craft as an ensemble.

About the Teaching Artist: Ryan Wilcox has flirted with the idea of being a composer and full-time musician since he was about 3. Now, in his late 30s, he is leaning into this dream and excited to be leading his first circle song groups! Ryan plays saxophone and guitar and sings, and he has performed solo and with various ensembles, including Voices (with David Worm), the Cal Band and a number of local rock outfits. He minored in music at UC Berkeley and has taught music appreciation classes for diverse community groups. Ryan has worked in the nonprofit sector, and especially in the senior care industry, for over a decade. He was the Program Director at The Lake Merritt Independent Senior Living (a unique senior community and public event space) for eight years.

Visitor Guidelines: Face masks are optional.

Access: Ruth’s Table gallery and adjacent green space are wheelchair accessible.

ASL Interpretation: ASL interpretation is available upon request. 72-hour notice required.

Registration: Free | RSVP not required.

Donate: The program is free, donations are welcome.

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ART EXPLORATION WITH ANDREW MILLS

Every Friday | 10:30am-12:30pm
Onsite | Free

Ruth's Table and Art With Elders are teaming up for an all-new weekly Friday morning art class with Teaching Artist Andrew Mills. Equipping oneself with a solid understanding of drawing helps new artists avoid the pitfalls and frustrations people often encounter when they jump right into painting. These workshops will focus on drawing and painting and offer students a chance to receive feedback and support in an intimate and supportive setting. No experience is required and all levels and ages are welcome!

Materials will be provided and regular attendance is encouraged as we establish this new weekly art program focused on skill-building, artistic exploration, and social connections with other like-minded creatives.

About Andrew Mills: Andrew enjoys sharing different approaches and a variety of drawing and painting techniques to the Art With Elders community, so that every student can be proud of and further develop their personal vision. Andrew Mills received his BFA from the University of Minnesota and his MFA from San Francisco Art Institute. He has exhibited in New York, Minneapolis, Miami, San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area. Born in Anchorage, AK, he moved around the country quite a bit growing up and has made his home in San Francisco for the past 20 years with his wife and daughter.

Visitor Guidelines: Face masks are optional.

Access: Ruth’s Table gallery and adjacent green space are wheelchair accessible.

ASL Interpretation: ASL interpretation is available upon request. 72-hour notice required.

Registration: Free | RSVP not required.

Donate: The program is free, donations are welcome.

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SF PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE & CMC JAZZ PERFORMANCE

Wednesday | October 16, 2024
11:00am-12:00pm
Onsite at 580 Capp Street, San Francisco
Free & Open to All

Bookmobile onsite every third Wednesday of the month through December at 11:00am-12:00pm

Ruth’s Table is delighted to host the San Francisco Public Library Bookmobile monthly through December! Enjoy live music and explore multilingual books and written resources offered by SF Library!

October’s Bookmobile will feature: Eduardo Corzo, Community Music Center piano faculty member will play Latin Jazz music to serenade bookmobile visitors, neighborhood residents, and folks walking by. Visitors will also be treated to free popcorn! Want to help us create a vibrant and friendly neighborhood environment each month for our Bookmobile visits? Reach out to Evan to volunteer!

Visitor Guidelines: Face masks are optional.

Access: Bethany Center, Ruth’s Table and adjacent green space are wheelchair accessible.

Donate: The program is free, donations are welcome.

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