Calendar

Events in April 2024

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Mar 31(1 event)

8:30 am: Two-Day Storytelling Workshop with Author M. Leona Godin (in-person)


Mar 31

Where: Lighthouse HQ, 1155 Market, San Francisco, 11th Floor
Cost: $100

Saturday, March 30 & Sunday, March 31

During this intensive weekend workshop, writer and performer Leona Godin will guide students through writing and performance exercises to craft personal narratives. We’ll consider creative non-fiction for the page and for the stage, for example the personal essay, Moth-style storytelling, and memoir. Students will also be encouraged to prepare a short piece for performance during the public story slam Saturday afternoon.

About the Instructor: Dr. M. Leona Godin is the author of There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness (Pantheon, 2021), and the founder of Aromatica Poetica, an arts and culture laboratory for the advancement of smell and taste. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, O Magazine, Literary Hub, and others. Her storytelling appearances include: RISK!; Story Collider; The MOTH Mainstage; TALE; and Turn Me Into Gold (Back Pocket Media). Her first storytelling solo show, “SIGHTED PEOPLE SUCK!,” Debuted at Under St. Marks Theater in November 2023 and she’s currently performing “Becoming Blind (as a Bat)” at Olfactory Art Keller. As a New York Public Library 2023-24 Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellow, she’s working on a series of essays about image description and photography.

Saturday Schedule:
• 10:00 AM: check-in, introductions, and notes on short, personal narrative. Beginning, middle, and end, sure, but what else makes a compelling story? How do you make the personal universal? We’ll talk about elements that can guide your choices when crafting a story. What’s the difference between an anecdote and a story? A premise and a story? How do I show, not tell?
• 12:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Writing is a solitary business, except when it’s not! Oftentimes authors are called upon to read their work. This may present some challenges to some newly low-vision writers. However, whether you are a seasoned public reader or brand-new, whether you’ll be reading your own work or asking someone else to read for you, we’ll talk about how to select and prepare an excerpt. For those who would like to try their hand at Moth-style storytelling, we’ll talk about how to remain loose while still being mindful of the time. Storytelling in front of a live audience is also a great way to gain reader fans. We’ll listen to and discuss some examples.
• 4:00 - 6:00 PM: Storytelling Slam (see below)
• 6:30 PM: Dinner

Sunday Schedule:
• 8:30 AM: Breakfast
• 9:00 AM: Spinning out the story. We’ll consider strategies for connecting stories to create longer narratives. We’ll discuss nonfiction forms such as the lyric essay and memoir and consider how different genres allow different facets of a story to emerge. We’ll also talk about publishing: how to submit your work; where to submit your work; how not to be crushed by disappointment. And finally, we’ll talk about how to develop a sustainable and sustaining daily writing practice.
• 11:30 AM: Pack up and check out of rooms
• 12:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00 PM: Workshop ends

RSVP online for Two-Day Storytelling Workshop with Author M. Leona Godin or to Sabrina Bolus at SBolus@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7607.

Apr 1(1 event)

9:30 am: The Business of Blindness: Coffee with Mike (online)


Apr 1

What does it mean to be blind or low vision? Mike Cole, a veteran of all things blindness, leads this call-in forum to discuss the day-to-day ins and outs of blindness—from daily living in your home environment to navigating the vast expanse of bureaucracies.

RSVP for The Business of Blindness online or contact Andrew Martinez at AMartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

Apr 2
Apr 3(1 event)

7:00 pm: EHC Virtual Campfire (online)


Apr 3

These fun-filled evenings will consist of Enchanted Hills Camp updates, songs, alumni check-ins and LightHouse information and resources. All are welcome to join.

RSVP to Andrew Martinez at AMartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

Apr 4(2 events)

11:00 am: Museum of Craft & Design MAKE Art Activation (in-person)


Apr 4

Nearly every month, the Museum of Craft and Design brings their Mobile Make Art programming direct to Lighthouse HQ, at 1155 Market, 11th floor in San Francisco, featuring projects inspired by their latest exhibition on view at their Third Street museum and adapted for eyes-free crafting. This season, two new exhibits will be on view, including one exploring robot assisted art and artworks from the Pacific Northwest. Visit each month’s MAKE activation to discover a new project every time.

RSVP to Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608.

2:00 pm: Tecnologia para Todos (online)


Apr 4

Join the LightHouse’s monthly access Technology Spanish meeting. Tecnología para todos is a space where users share their knowledge and experience. Each month, we talk about services, applications and devices available for blind and low vision users.

This event will be conducted using the Zoom platform. You can connect to Zoom using a computer, an app, or by dialing in from any phone. Zoom meeting details will be provided when you RSVP to Fernando Macias at FMacias@lighthouse-sf.org or 1-415-694-7670.

Apr 5
Apr 6
Apr 7(1 event)

4:00 pm: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Audio Described Performance & Haptic Tour (in-person)


Apr 7

Shotgun Players in Albany presents an audio described performance and haptic tour of their production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. The play follows the warrior queen, Hippolyta, who is compelled to marry her captor, Theseus. A comical group of mechanics decides to gift the couple with a play performed at the wedding. Rehearsals are interrupted by a group of lovers in a chase of one another, heightened by magic juice administered by a mischievous fairy, Puck…and hilarity ensues.

$10 off Tickets

Buy tickets online to A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM audio described performance and haptic tour. Use discount code "MAGICJUICE" (in all capitals and without the quotes) for $10 off or call the box office at 510-841-6500 ext 303 and mention the code word “MAGICJUICE” for $10 off.

After you purchase a ticket for the show, RSVP for the haptic tour and an audio description headset by contacting boxoffice@shotgunplayers.org, or calling 510-841-6500 ext 303.

Audio description and the pre-show haptic tour are presented in partnership with Gravity Access Services. The haptic tour begins at 4:00 pm and doors open for the tour at 3:45 pm.

$10 off Tickets

Buy tickets online to A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM audio described performance and haptic tour. Use discount code "MAGICJUICE" (in all capitals and without the quotes) for $10 off or call the box office at 510-841-6500 ext 303 and mention the code word “MAGICJUICE” for $10 off.

After you purchase a ticket for the show, RSVP for the haptic tour and an audio description headset by contacting boxoffice@shotgunplayers.org, or calling 510-841-6500 ext 303.

The stage is located at 1901 Ashby Ave in Berkeley, near Ashby BART station. The show starts at 5:00 pm and the runtime is 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermission.

Apr 8(3 events)

9:30 am: The Business of Blindness: Coffee with Mike (online)


Apr 8

What does it mean to be blind or low vision? Mike Cole, a veteran of all things blindness, leads this call-in forum to discuss the day-to-day ins and outs of blindness—from daily living in your home environment to navigating the vast expanse of bureaucracies.

RSVP for The Business of Blindness online or contact Andrew Martinez at AMartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

1:00 pm: Music and Poetry at Earle Baum Center (hybrid)


Apr 8

Music and Poetry Group is offered on the second and fourth Monday of the month.

If you wish to have your favorite music, song, poem or an original work, presented at the group, celebrating all styles and eras, please submit your selection to Patricia 4 days prior to the group.   We will ask for a brief introduction to your choice, we will all listen together with time for discussion.

There is a $20.00 fee each month with payment due prior to the 2nd Monday of each month. Please register online or call our office at to register.

Music and Poetry class at EBC is presented by Patricia Jefferson, Vision Rehabilitation Instructor, who has a lifelong passion for music and poetry. To RSVP, please contact Patricia at jefferson@earlebaum.org or 707-523-3222.

 

5:00 pm: Toastmasters: LightHouse Visionaries (online)


Apr 8

LightHouse Visionaries provides blind and visually impaired people with a supportive and fun environment to develop public speaking and leadership skills, empowering us to enhance our personal and professional lives.

Toastmasters is a place to develop skills of self-empowerment. It's a place to practice public speaking, improve communication, and build leadership skills. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.

RSVP online for Toastmasters, or contact Sabrina Bolus at Sbolus@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7607.

Apr 9(2 events)

1:00 pm: Los Visionarios (in-person)


Apr 9

This is a Spanish language social group that meets once a month on every 2nd Tuesday. Beginning, April 9, 2024 the group will alternate the meeting location between the San Francisco Public Library and LightHouse every other month. And feel free to stick around for the Spanish Book Club right after this at 2:00 pm.

Please contact Esmeralda Soto 415-694-7323 or via e-mail at ESoto@lighthouse-sf.org for any additional information.

Este es un grupo social de habla hispana que se reúne una vez al mes cada 2 martes. A partir del 9 de abril de 2024, el grupo alternará el lugar de reunión entre la Biblioteca Pública de San Francisco y LightHouse.

También si quieren acompañarnos para el club de libros será a las 2 PM después de Los Visionarios.

Comuníquese con Esmeralda Soto al 415-694-7323 o por correo electrónico al ESoto@lighthouse-sf.org para cualquier información adicional

2:00 pm: Spanish Book Club (in-person)


Apr 9

This is a Spanish language book club that meets once a month on every 2nd Tuesday. Beginning, April 9, 2024 the group will alternate the meeting location between the San Francisco Public Library and LightHouse. If you’re available, you can also join us for Los Visionarios, the Spanish language social group that meets in the same place just before this at 1:00 pm.

Please contact Esmeralda Soto 415-694-7323 or via e-mail at ESoto@lighthouse-sf.org for any additional information

Este es un club de lectura en español que se reúne una vez al mes cada 2º martes. A partir del 9 de abril de 2024, el grupo alternará el lugar de reunión entre la Biblioteca Pública de San Francisco y LightHouse. Si están disponibles por favor de acompañarnos para el grupo social de Los Visionarios aquí mismo a las 1 PM

Comuníquese con Esmeralda Soto al 415-694-7323 o por correo electrónico al ESoto@lighthouse-sf.org para cualquier información adicional

Apr 10
Apr 11(3 events)

11:00 am: April is National Card & Letter Writing Month 2024 (in-person)


Apr 11

Do you wish you could send and receive more fun mail in our mailboxes? Did you enjoy writing cards and letters and don’t do it anymore because of your changes in vision or reliance on technology? Do you miss connecting with others through the good ol’ fashioned U.S. Postal Mail? Would you like to brighten someone’s day by sending a heartfelt message to a friend or a loved one?

Come celebrate! April is National Card & Letter Writing Month 2024 is happening at the LightHouse San Francisco offices. Join us for the fun and functional art and living skills groups on Thursday, April 11 and 18, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Pick up some new tips and techniques for letter writing by learning the benefits of using thick line pens, large print writing, thick line paper, writing guides, and Braille, and hone your art and mail art making skills! Enjoy meeting fellow letter writing and mail art lovers, chat about the histories of postal mail and the letter writing event, and the many ways to send postal mail.

RSVP online for April is National Card & Letter Writing Month 2024, or contact Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608.

11:30 am: Speak Imagery: Faces In The Crowd (online)


Apr 11

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) present Tour Theme: Faces In The Crowd.

This virtual tour is led by docents Margaret Grohne & Lani Shepp.

Museums are filled with portraits of people whose names we know—monarchs, presidents, aristocrats, and members of high society. But other works depict people whose names and stories we will never know. On this tour we will look at works that feature people in everyday situations. We’ll ask what the paintings tell us about their lives and times, and what they share in common with us.

The Yellow Lampshade by Elmer Bischoff, 1969

Register in advance at zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0ud-6grjgtGNTUgTWYu2GYI6JuwVLRTC5Z. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. You can log on as early as 11:00 am, but you won’t be admitted until 11:30 am.

A large colorful canvas featuring a man and a woman in a high rise apartment

5:00 pm: Access After Hours at the Museum of Craft & Design (in-person)


Apr 11

Join us at the Museum of Craft and Design at 2569 3rd St. in San Francisco for an extra fabulous after hours museum visit for haptic and descriptive tours of art works from the current exhibitions, Mr. Roboto and Indiefolk, experiment with crafts using materials inspired by work in on view, have a drink and enjoy good company after your long day of work or play. The event is free with RSVP, and you are most welcome to bring a friend.

RSVP to Maia Scott at Mscott@lightouse-sf.org or 415-290-6242.

Apr 12
Apr 13
Apr 14
Apr 15(1 event)

9:30 am: The Business of Blindness: Coffee with Mike (online)


Apr 15

What does it mean to be blind or low vision? Mike Cole, a veteran of all things blindness, leads this call-in forum to discuss the day-to-day ins and outs of blindness—from daily living in your home environment to navigating the vast expanse of bureaucracies.

RSVP for The Business of Blindness online or contact Andrew Martinez at AMartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

Apr 16
Apr 17
Apr 18(2 events)

11:00 am: April is National Card & Letter Writing Month 2024 (in-person)


Apr 18

Do you wish you could send and receive more fun mail in our mailboxes? Did you enjoy writing cards and letters and don’t do it anymore because of your changes in vision or reliance on technology? Do you miss connecting with others through the good ol’ fashioned U.S. Postal Mail? Would you like to brighten someone’s day by sending a heartfelt message to a friend or a loved one?

Come celebrate! April is National Card & Letter Writing Month 2024 is happening at the LightHouse San Francisco offices. Join us for the fun and functional art and living skills groups on Thursday, April 11 and 18, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Pick up some new tips and techniques for letter writing by learning the benefits of using thick line pens, large print writing, thick line paper, writing guides, and Braille, and hone your art and mail art making skills! Enjoy meeting fellow letter writing and mail art lovers, chat about the histories of postal mail and the letter writing event, and the many ways to send postal mail.

RSVP online for April is National Card & Letter Writing Month 2024, or contact Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608.

2:00 pm: Tecnologia para Todos (online)


Apr 18

Join the LightHouse’s monthly access Technology Spanish meeting. Tecnología para todos is a space where users share their knowledge and experience. Each month, we talk about services, applications and devices available for blind and low vision users.

This event will be conducted using the Zoom platform. You can connect to Zoom using a computer, an app, or by dialing in from any phone. Zoom meeting details will be provided when you RSVP to Fernando Macias at FMacias@lighthouse-sf.org or 1-415-694-7670.

Apr 19(1 event)

6:00 pm: 30% and Growing (in-person)


Apr 19

Join us back in the city as 30% and Growing stops by Azucar Lounge at 299 9th St. in San Francisco, for Latin food and drinks. Come out and enjoy camaraderie with other blind and low vision people who are in different stages of their career. Azucar Lounge is a few blocks from Lighthouse headquarters, and we will be walking over as a group for anyone who would like to join.

RSVP to Andrew Martinez at AMartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

Apr 20
Apr 21(1 event)

11:00 am: Descriptive Tour at BAMPFA: Explore Black Artists (in-person)


Apr 21

Karen Bennet at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) invites you to join her to Explore Black Artists in BAMPFA's permanent Collection. “What Has Been and What Could Be” is the first in a series of year-long exhibitions exploring aspects of BAMPFA's collections, allowing an opportunity to appreciate long-time favorites and recent acquisitions alike and to reflect on the meaning of building a collection. Works by Black artists in the exhibition date from 1863, with a concentration of work made in the early 1970s and in the decades since, and an historic bequest of quilts by African-American artists received in 2019.

In this descriptive tour, led by associate curator for education Karen Bennett, we'll discuss work in drawing, painting, textile, sculpture and photography by Black artists in the museum's collection.

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive
2155 Center Street, Berkeley CA 94720

Many of us will have lunch after the exhibit at a lovely Persian restaurant two blocks from BAMPFA. Remember our motto: Come for the Art. Stay for the food! If you plan to attend the tour, or you want to join us for lunch, let Stan know at syarnell@comcast.net.

Apr 22(2 events)

9:30 am: The Business of Blindness: Coffee with Mike (online)


Apr 22

What does it mean to be blind or low vision? Mike Cole, a veteran of all things blindness, leads this call-in forum to discuss the day-to-day ins and outs of blindness—from daily living in your home environment to navigating the vast expanse of bureaucracies.

RSVP for The Business of Blindness online or contact Andrew Martinez at AMartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

1:00 pm: Music and Poetry at Earle Baum Center (hybrid)


Apr 22

Music and Poetry Group is offered on the second and fourth Monday of the month.

If you wish to have your favorite music, song, poem or an original work, presented at the group, celebrating all styles and eras, please submit your selection to Patricia 4 days prior to the group.   We will ask for a brief introduction to your choice, we will all listen together with time for discussion.

There is a $20.00 fee each month with payment due prior to the 2nd Monday of each month. Please register online or call our office at to register.

Music and Poetry class at EBC is presented by Patricia Jefferson, Vision Rehabilitation Instructor, who has a lifelong passion for music and poetry. To RSVP, please contact Patricia at jefferson@earlebaum.org or 707-523-3222.

 

Apr 23
Apr 24
Apr 25
Apr 26
Apr 27(1 event)

2:00 pm: 1155 Performance Salon featuring Comedians with Disabilities Act (in-person)


Apr 27

Save the Date: Eat, drink and be merry at this month's performance salon. For April, we welcome talented comedians from Comedians with Disabilities Act who will share their laugh-out-loud stories and sets. Bring a friend to share he hilarity and good vibes before heading out for dinner and date night. The names of  the performer's to come!

RSVP:  Maia Scott at MScott@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7608

Apr 28
Apr 29(1 event)

9:30 am: The Business of Blindness: Coffee with Mike (online)


Apr 29

What does it mean to be blind or low vision? Mike Cole, a veteran of all things blindness, leads this call-in forum to discuss the day-to-day ins and outs of blindness—from daily living in your home environment to navigating the vast expanse of bureaucracies.

RSVP for The Business of Blindness online or contact Andrew Martinez at AMartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

Apr 30
May 1(1 event)

7:00 pm: EHC Virtual Campfire (online)


May 1

These fun-filled evenings will consist of Enchanted Hills Camp updates, songs, alumni check-ins and LightHouse information and resources. All are welcome to join.

RSVP to Andrew Martinez at AMartinez@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7642.

May 2
May 3
May 4

The events for the upcoming week are read aloud on our event hotline every Friday, which can be accessed by calling 415-694-7325. For more information about visiting the Adaptations Store, head to our shop page.

The LightHouse is scent-free. Please abstain from wearing colognes, perfumes, or other scented products. Additionally, coffee must be securely lidded at all times and citrus should not be peeled on the premises. Thanks for supporting our efforts to respect chemical sensitivities!

SDS safety dataClick here for our cleaning product safety data sheets (SDS) and ingredient information.

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